Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
09:20
Lumped-Parameter and Finite Element Modeling of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Published on: February 13, 2021
The many faces of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02445, USA.
Nature Reviews. Cardiology
|September 5, 2012
Insights
Patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) show normal ejection fraction but diverse cardiac issues. Understanding this heterogeneity is key for better prognosis and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is defined by normal left ventricular ejection fraction.
- Despite preserved ejection fraction, HFpEF patients exhibit significant variability in cardiac structure and function.
- This heterogeneity poses challenges in diagnosis and treatment stratification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the significant diversity in cardiac abnormalities among patients with HFpEF.
- To explore how understanding this heterogeneity can inform prognosis.
- To investigate the potential for tailored therapeutic interventions based on individual patient profiles.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and clinical data on HFpEF.
- Analysis of echocardiographic and other imaging modalities to assess cardiac structure and function.
- Correlation of observed structural and functional variations with clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Confirmed marked heterogeneity in diastolic dysfunction, atrial abnormalities, and right ventricular function in HFpEF.
- Identified distinct subgroups of HFpEF patients based on their specific abnormalities.
- Demonstrated a link between specific patterns of abnormality and patient prognosis.
Conclusions:
- The diversity of cardiac abnormalities in HFpEF is a critical factor influencing patient outcomes.
- Recognizing and characterizing this heterogeneity is essential for accurate prognostic assessment.
- Future therapeutic strategies for HFpEF should consider personalized approaches targeting specific pathophysiological mechanisms.
Abstract:
By definition, patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction are characterized by a normal or near-normal left ventricular ejection fraction, but marked heterogeneity in the extent of other cardiac structural and functional abnormalities exists. Improved appreciation of this diversity might provide insights into prognosis and therapeutic interventions.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
01:30Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation
Heart failure can be classified in various ways, with the most common classifications based on physical activity limitations, disease progression, severity, and treatment strategies.The Functional Classification of Heart Failure divides patients into four categories based on physical activity limitation due to symptom burden.Class I: Patients in this class have cardiac disease but no physical activity limitations. Ordinary activities like walking, climbing stairs, or routine tasks do not cause...
01:26Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...
01:27Heart Failure I: Introduction
Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
01:26Imbalances in Cardiac Output
The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...