When to suspect and how to confirm HFpEF?

Harriette Van Spall, MD, MPH, is an associate professor in the Division of Cardiology at McMaster University.

When should we suspect and how to confirm heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (as the diagnosis may be difficult)?

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by structural or functional impairment of the left ventricle, followed by left-sided and progressive right-sided congestion.

Patients present with HF symptoms and signs and these should be investigated with echocardiography, and sometimes stress hemodynamics and stress echocardiography, to assess for any abnormalities in the left-sided filling pressures or pulmonary pressures, which provide further evidence of HF.

See also

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Diagnosis and management A lecture by Dr Harriette Van Spall from McMaster University delivered at the McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine (MIRCIM) in 2023.
The 3 most important recent advances in the treatment of arterial hypertension Dr Reinhold Kreutz from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, presents the 3 most important recent advances in the treatment of arterial hypertension.
The 3 most important recent advances in treating cardiac arrhythmias Dr Tatjana Potpara from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, shares her views on the 3 most important recent advances in treating cardiac arrhythmias.
Unknown areas in target BP and therapeutic goals in the elderly with hypertension Are there still any unknown areas concerning target blood pressure (BP) values and therapeutic goals in older patients with hypertension?
Antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery disease What should be taken into consideration when choosing or switching antiplatelet agents in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)?

When to suspect and how to confirm HFpEF?

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