Expert proposal to characterize cardiac diseases with normal or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and symptoms of heart failure by comprehensive echocardiography

Abstract

Currently, the term “heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF)” is based on echocardiographic parameters and clinical symptoms combined with elevated or normal levels of natriuretic peptides. Thus, “HFpEF” as a diagnosis subsumes multiple pathophysiological entities making a uniform management plan for “HFpEF” impossible. Therefore, a more specific characterization of the underlying cardiac pathologies in patients with preserved ejection fraction and symptoms of heart failure is mandatory. The present proposal seeks to offer practical support by a standardized echocardiographic workflow to characterize specific diagnostic entities associated with “HFpEF”. It focuses on morphological and functional cardiac phenotypes characterized by echocardiography in patients with normal or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The proposal discusses methodological issues to clarify why and when echocardiography is helpful to improve the diagnosis. Thus, the proposal addresses a systematic echocardiographic approach using a feasible algorithm with weighting criteria for interpretation of echocardiographic parameters related to patients with preserved ejection fraction and symptoms of heart failure. The authors consciously do not use the diagnosis “HFpEF” to avoid misunderstandings. Graphical abstract: Central illustration: Scheme illustrating the characteristic echocardiographic phenotypes and their combinations in patients with “HFpEF” symptoms with respect to the respective cardiac pathology and pathophysiology as well as the underlying typical disease [Figure not available: see fulltext.]