Objective To explore the clinical significance of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the evaluation of cardiac function in patients with severe burns. Methods A total of 78 patients with severe burns in intensive care unit(ICU)in our hospital were selected. Patients were divided into a heart failure group(n = 31)and a non-heart failure group(n = 47)according to the heart failure complication condition. The changes of NT-proBNP level in different time ,heart function index ,relevant index and mortality were compared between the two groups. Results The levels of NT-proBNP ,troponin(CTnT),creatine kinase(CK),creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB),stroke volume index (SVI),cardiac index (CI) and central venous pressure (CVP),and the score of acute physiologic and chronic health conditions(APACHE II)in the heart failure group were shown to be significantly increased than those of the non-heart failure group (P < 0.05). The mean arterial pressure(MAP)in the heart failure group was significantly lower than the non-heart failure group(P < 0.05). Mortality rate in the heart failure group was shown to be significantly higher than the non-heart failure group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Heart failure is a common complication in patients with severe burns. The mortality rate in the population with heart failure is relatively high ,for which NT-proBNP can effectively assess the conditions and prognosis.