A scoring system for diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction based on exercise echocardiography

Exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) is often used to identify heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients presenting dyspnoea. However, diagnostic criteria have not been standardized. Here, we sought to develop ESE-based criteria to diagnose HFpEF in dyspnoeic patients.

A total of 81 consecutive patients with dyspnoea who underwent exercise right heart catheterization and ESE were evaluated. Diagnosis of HFpEF was ascertained by directly-measured haemodynamics (61 HFpEF and 20 controls). Logistic regression analysis was applied to develop an ESE-based scoring system to diagnose HFpEF. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified resting left atrial reservoir strain < 20%, exercise septal E/e' ratio > 13, and increases in ultrasound B-lines as independent predictors of HFpEF. A weighted score was created with these variables (the ESE score) ranging from 0 to 5. The ESE score accurately discriminated HFpEF from controls [area under the curve (AUC) 0.90, P < 0.0001], with a superior diagnostic ability to the ASE/ESCVI criteria (AUC comparison P < 0.0001). The ESE score classified the HFpEF probability into three categories (probabilities: low risk 28%, intermediate risk 59-83%, and high risk 95-99%). In a cohort of 620 dyspnoeic patients, the predictive ability of the derived score was assessed. A higher ESE score was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality or worsening HF events even after adjusting for confounders (hazard ratio; 1.17 per 1-point increase, 95% confidence intervals; 1.00-1.37, P = 0.04).

The ESE score, which is based on three echocardiographic variables, may be an effective tool for diagnosing HFpEF on exercise echocardiography.