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Diastolic heart failure.
Current Problems in Cardiology
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Diastolic heart failure, common in older adults, is diagnosed using echocardiography and radionuclear imaging. Prognosis and treatment differ significantly from systolic heart failure, with systolic function improvement prioritized in mixed cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Diastolic heart failure (DHF) is an increasingly recognized clinical syndrome, particularly in elderly populations.
- Accurate diagnosis of DHF requires specific awareness due to its distinct pathophysiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the diagnostic approaches for diastolic heart failure.
- To differentiate DHF from systolic heart failure regarding prognosis and therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis relies on a combination of echocardiographic and radionuclear findings.
- Invasive hemodynamic assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is rarely necessary.
Main Results:
- Prognosis is generally better for DHF patients with preserved systolic function compared to those with impaired systolic function.
- Therapeutic strategies for DHF and systolic heart failure are substantially different.
Conclusions:
- Diastolic dysfunction often coexists with systolic dysfunction, presenting complex management challenges.
- Prioritizing improvement of systolic pump function is crucial in patients with markedly impaired systolic function, even when diastolic dysfunction is present.