Contribution of exercise echocardiography to the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the contribution of exercise echocardiography (ExE) to the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Design: Cross-sectional study of patients undergoing ExE. Patients: 436 patients with fatigue or dyspnoea presenting for ExE were studied. Methods: Current criteria for the diagnosis of HFpEF (evidence of symptoms or signs of heart failure, EF>50%, abnormal transmitral flow and supplementary tissue Doppler measurements (E/e′) suggesting raised left ventricular filling pressure) were applied to this population. The impact of reclassification of clinical status based on exercise E/e′ >13 and ischaemia was evaluated. Results: Of 436 patients, 37 ..