NT-proBNP–guided heart failure screening for people 65+ in rural China
Official title: Screening Elderly Adults in Rural Communities for Heart Failure Using an NT-proBNP-Guided Strategy in China (SEARCH-HF)
Run by Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital · NCT07885488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether using NT-proBNP blood tests to guide heart failure screening in adults 65 and older in rural China can find unrecognized heart problems more effectively than symptom-based screening.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 2532 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nanjing) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | June 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07885488 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 65 or older living in the Hushu Town area who are enrolled in local health management services and able to provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with very limited life expectancy or conditions preventing accurate screening (e.g., severe cognitive impairment) may not benefit from this approach.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The trial is a cluster-randomized study in primary care settings enrolling about 2,532 community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older. Clusters are randomly assigned to either an NT-proBNP-guided screening pathway or a traditional symptom-based screening pathway for heart failure. In the NT-proBNP arm, elevated NT-proBNP levels trigger further cardiac evaluation, while the control arm relies on symptoms to determine referrals. The study aims to determine whether biomarker-guided screening improves detection of previously unrecognized heart failure in a real-world aging population. Enrollment targets residents from Hushu Town, Jiangning District, Nanjing, with follow-up and evaluation conducted at local primary healthcare facilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enable earlier detection and treatment of heart failure in older adults, potentially improving outcomes and reducing healthcare burden.
How similar studies have gone: Previous use of NT-proBNP in screening contexts has shown promise for identifying cardiac dysfunction, but cluster-randomized screening in rural primary care is relatively novel here.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1.Residents aged ≥65 years who are registered as permanent residents of Hushu Town, Jiangning District, Nanjing, China; 2. Have been residing in the local village for an extended period and are enrolled in routine health management services for older adults provided by the local primary healthcare institution; 3. Have normal cognitive function, are capable of independently understanding the study procedures and screening assessments, and voluntarily provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. An estimated life expectancy of less than 3 months based on a comprehensive assessment by a qualified clinician; 2. A confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia, severe dementia, or other psychiatric or cognitive disorders that would preclude adequate cooperation with questionnaires, blood sampling, echocardiography, or other study-related screening procedures.
Where it's running
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Hushu Community Health Service Center
Nanjing, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ming Chu, Dr.
- Email: chuming@njmu.edu.cn
- Phone: +86 13814010410
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.