How to diagnose heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a growing global health concern.
• Current management trends focus on early diagnosis and tailored treatments based on patient phenotypes.
• Diagnosing HFpEF is complex due to a lack of universal criteria and significant patient heterogeneity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the diagnostic workup for HFpEF.
• To emphasize the critical role of echocardiography in identifying distinct HFpEF phenotypes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of diagnostic strategies for HFpEF.
• Focus on the application of echocardiography in HFpEF phenotyping.

Main Results:

• Echocardiography is instrumental in differentiating HFpEF phenotypes.
• Diagnostic challenges stem from patient variability and non-standardized criteria.

Conclusions:

• Accurate HFpEF diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation, integrating various diagnostic tools.
• Phenotype-specific assessment, particularly via echocardiography, is key for effective HFpEF management.