HFA Congress 2026 — Dr Rui Baptista (University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PT) joins us to discuss findings from the PORTHOS (PORTuguese Heart Failure Observational Study), a nationwide, population-based epidemiological study examining heart failure prevalence and characteristics in mainland Portugal using contemporary diagnostic tools.

PORTHOS enrolled 6,189 adults aged 50 and above, randomly selected through multi-stage sampling via the National Health Service. Using a structured three-phase diagnostic approach incorporating NT-proBNP measurement, comprehensive echocardiography, and diastolic stress testing, the study provides the most up-to-date assessment of heart failure epidemiology in Portugal. This analysis focuses specifically on the relationship between obesity and natriuretic peptide levels within this cohort.

Interview Questions:

1. Why is the relationship between obesity and natriuretic peptides clinically important, and what gaps in understanding does the PORTHOS dataset allow you to address?
2. Can you briefly describe the PORTHOS study design and what made it well suited to examine this specific question at a population level?
3. What were your key findings regarding natriuretic peptide levels across different obesity categories in this cohort?
4. How did obesity interact with heart failure phenotype — were there differences across HFrEF, HFmrEF, and HFpEF subgroups?
5. What are the diagnostic implications of these findings — should obesity-specific NT-proBNP thresholds be considered in clinical practice?
6. How do these data inform our understanding of the underdiagnosis of heart failure in patients with obesity?
7. What are the broader lessons from PORTHOS for heart failure screening strategies at a population level?

Recorded on-site at Heart Failure Association Congress 2026, Barcelona.
Editors: Jordan Rance
Videographer: Oliver Miles
Support: This is an independent interview produced by Radcliffe Cardiology.