Association between diastolic stress test and H2FPEF score.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Diagnostic Medicine

Background:

• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is common.
• The H2FPEF score and diastolic stress testing are emerging diagnostic tools for HFpEF.
• Evaluating diastolic function in HFpEF patients remains a clinical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize patients undergoing stress tests for HFpEF.
• To assess the association between the H2FPEF score and diastolic stress test outcomes.
• To explore the utility of these diagnostic methods in HFpEF.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, observational study of 99 patients meeting specific inclusion criteria.
• Utilized exercise stress tests and the Chi-square test for statistical analysis.
• Included patients aged over 18, in sinus rhythm, with LVEF > 54% and mild baseline diastolic dysfunction.

Main Results:

• The study included 99 patients, with 49.5% females and a median age of 62.2 years.
• A significant association (p=0.02) was found between the H2FPEF score and positive diastolic stress test results.
• Hypertension (58.6%), diabetes (12.1%), and coronary disease (20.2%) were prevalent; 36.4% had positive stress tests for diastolic dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• The H2FPEF score is useful but often categorizes patients into an intermediate risk group.
• Diastolic stress testing provides valuable diagnostic information for HFpEF patients, especially in the intermediate H2FPEF score category.
• Combining clinical scores with functional tests like the diastolic stress test improves HFpEF diagnosis.