Which are the best tests available to the emergency physician for diagnosing acute heart failure?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

No single criterion exists that reliably diagnoses acute heart failure (AHF) in emergency department (ED) patients who present with acute dyspnea despite the prevalence of this disease. This study evaluates the available diagnostic modalities for AHF to determine which has the best test characteristics.

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

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