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[Diastolic heart failure. Physiopathology]
A Cohen Solal1, E Salengro, P Garçon
1Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital Beaujon, 100, boulevard du Général Lederc, 92118 Clichy.
Presse Medicale (Paris, France : 1983)
|November 17, 2001
Summary
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasingly diagnosed, particularly in older adults. This condition, often linked to aging and other heart diseases, requires greater physician awareness of its complex causes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Heart failure is not solely caused by systolic dysfunction.
- A growing number of patients present with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), defined as an ejection fraction >= 40%.
- The prevalence of HFpEF increases with age, surpassing systolic dysfunction in individuals over 80.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the increasing incidence and prevalence of HFpEF.
- To underscore the importance of recognizing HFpEF as a distinct clinical entity.
- To emphasize the need for physician awareness regarding HFpEF's complex pathophysiology.
Main Methods:
- The study reviews the clinical presentation and underlying mechanisms of diastolic heart failure.
- It discusses the association of prolonged ventricular relaxation and reduced left ventricular distensibility.
- Key contributing factors such as ischemic, hypertensive, and age-related heart disease are examined.
Main Results:
- Diastolic heart failure is becoming more common, especially in elderly populations.
- Concentric left ventricular remodeling, with or without hypertrophy, is consistently linked to diastolic dysfunction.
- Acute congestion episodes are typically triggered by specific factors.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of diastolic heart failure (HFpEF) demonstrates a clear upward trend with advancing age.
- Physicians must possess a comprehensive understanding of the intricate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying HFpEF.