Abstract
Background: In recent decades, the hospital admission due to heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFnEF) or diastolic heart failure has increased particularly in elderly patients. However, sufficient data regarding prevalence, etiologies and treatment of diastolic heart failure are not available for Indian population. So, we carried out an observational study to determine clinical profile and medical therapy for patients experiencing diastolic heart failure. Methods: This was prospective observational study carried out in rural area of India for the period of 12 months. All the patients diagnosed with heart failure with normal ejection fraction were included in the study. If the patient was having severe anemia (hemoglobin 8.00 g/dl), hemodynamically significant valvular disease, prosthetic valve replacement, and ventricular pacemaker, they were excluded. Results: A total of 53 patients diagnosed with HFnEF were included in the study. There were 24 male patients. Hypertension, CAD and diabetes mellitus were present in 33, 24 and 16 patients respectively. 18 patients developed severe diastolic dysfunction and more common in female as compared to male (37.9% vs. 33.3%). Most frequently observed clinical feature was tachycardia (96% cases) followed by pedal edema (86%). The patients were treated according to underlying cause. Conclusions: Diastolic heart failure is more common in elderly patients. In Indian population, diastolic heart failure has been associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery diseases in most of the cases.
Highlights
Epidemiological studies have revealed that 1.5% to 2% population experience heart failure (HF) and it is the main reason for hospital admission of elderly patients [1]
During the study period a total 53 patients diagnosed with heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFnEF) were evaluated
The echocardiographic evaluation of patients in our study indicated that severe diastolic dysfunction is more common in female (37.9% vs. 33.3%)
Summary
Epidemiological studies have revealed that 1.5% to 2% population experience heart failure (HF) and it is the main reason for hospital admission of elderly patients [1]. Recent studies have indicated that more than half patients diagnosed with HF even though ejection fraction (EF) is normal or near normal [5] [6]. This clinical condition is termed as “heart failure with normal ejection fraction” (HFnEF) or “diastolic heart failure” (DHF). It is characterized by the evidence of diastolic dysfunction (e.g., impaired LV relaxation, abnormal left ventricular filling and elevated filling pressure). We have carried out the study to obtain the clinical profile of the patients experiencing DHF along with aetiology, pharmacological treatments and short-term outcomes
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