Cardiac natriuretic peptides, BNP and NT-proBNP can be used to screen for left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with symptoms suggestive of heart failure. Using the cut-off values recommended in the article, the sensitivity and negative predictive values are high in patients aged <75 years, but have lower sensitivity at older age. In addition, natriuretic peptides are prognostic markers for mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization. BNP/NT-proBNP measurement may also be of value in follow-up on heart failure patients.