Prognosis in diastolic heart failure

Abstract

The clinical syndrome of heart failure can arise over a wide spectrum of left ventricular (LV) ejection fractions (LVEFs). Despite this, studies have typically focused on heart failure with reduced LVEF, and only recently has heart failure in the settings of normal and preserved LVEF (HFPEF) attained a wider interest. It has become evident that this pathology is becoming more prevalent in the modern aging communities and soon may be responsible for the majority of heart failure burden.1-5 The natural history of HFPEF is still not well-characterized, but it seems that once this diagnosis is confirmed it is associated with high morbidity and mortality.4-7 © 2008 Springer-Verlag London Limited.