Heart Failure with
Preserved Ejection Fraction
Birju Patel, MD MPH
Key points
• Relatively recent term, HFPEF = clinical dx of CHF +
preserved EF
• Half of all CHF, just as lethal
• Characterized by abnormal stiffness (up+left shift of
LV end diastolic pressure-volume relationship –
EDPVR)
• Especially fragile exercise capacity, fatigue, DOE
• Unclear how it happens, comorbidities likely key
• No tx strategy for HFREF has worked in HFPEF
Terminology
Energy
CAD
Structure /
function
Cardiomyopathy
Usually reserved for genetic
pathologies, excluding ischemic,
valvular, hypertensive etiologies
Dilated (eccentric), hypertrophic
(concentric), or restrictive
Congestive heart
failure
syndrome
HFREF
Systolic +/- diastolic
dysfunction
HFPEF
Diastolic but no systolic
dysfunction
Electrical
Arrhythmia
 ~2005
 ICD 9 – 1975
ICD 10 – 1990
pathology
clinical
physiology
clinical
Terminology
Energy
CAD
Structure /
function
Cardiomyopathy
Usually reserved for genetic
pathologies, excluding ischemic,
valvular, hypertensive etiologies
Dilated (eccentric), hypertrophic
(concentric), or restrictive
Congestive heart
failure
syndrome
HFREF
Systolic +/- diastolic
dysfunction
HFPEF
Diastolic but no systolic
dysfunction
Electrical
Arrhythmia
 ~2005
 ICD 9 – 1975
ICD 10 – 1990
pathology
clinical
physiology
clinical
Key point 1A
The term HFPEF is
relatively new
Working definition
• Clinical diagnosis of congestive heart failure
Framingham criteria – 2 major or 1 major + 2 minor
• Ejection fraction normal (>50%)
• No consensus here in US on need for DD or hypertrophy
Major Minor
PND or orthopnea DOE
Rales Nocturnal cough
HJR Tachycardia
S3 Ankle edema
JVD (or elevated CVP) Hepatomegaly
CXR pulmonary edema CXR engorged pulm vessels
Cardiomegaly Pleural effusion
10lb weight loss with diuretics Decreased vital capacity
HPI
PE
Imaging
Empiric!
HPI
Working definition
• Clinical diagnosis of congestive heart failure
Framingham criteria – 2 major or 1 major + 2 minor
• Ejection fraction normal (>50%)
• No consensus here in US on need for DD or hypertrophy
Major Minor
PND or orthopnea DOE
Rales Nocturnal cough
HJR Tachycardia
S3 Ankle edema
JVD (or elevated CVP) Hepatomegaly
CXR pulmonary edema CXR engorged pulm vessels
Cardiomegaly Pleural effusion
10lb weight loss with diuretics Decreased vital capacity
PE
Imaging
Empiric!
Key point 1B
HFPEF = CHF + EF>50
Epidemiology
Prevalence, hospitalizations, mortality
Increasing proportion of HFPEF
Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
Increasing proportion of HFPEF
Key point 2A
Half of all CHF is HFPEF
Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
Admissions for HFPEF vs HFREF
¼ of CHF discharges
are readmitted
within 30d
Mortality is high
post-discharge
Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
Significant mortality in HFPEF
Mean age 74, significant comorbidities including CAD, DM, HTN
Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
Significant mortality in HFPEF
Key point 2B
Significant mortality!
Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
Mean age 74, significant comorbidities including CAD, DM, HTN
Pathophysiology and
management
Physiologic definition
• Elevated LVEDP (filling pressure)
• Especially during exacerbation or exertion
• Increased stiffness (LV EDPVR)
Systolic dysfunction
Impaired contractility
Diastolic dysfunction
Impaired relaxation
Higher LVEDP
Burkhoff. Heart Failure With a Normal Ejection Fraction: Is It Really a Disorder of Diastolic Function? Circulation. 2003; 107:656-658
Physiologic definition
• Elevated LVEDP (filling pressure)
• Especially during exacerbation or exertion
• Increased stiffness (LV EDPVR)
Systolic dysfunction
Impaired contractility
Burkhoff. Heart Failure With a Normal Ejection Fraction: Is It Really a Disorder of Diastolic Function? Circulation. 2003; 107:656-658
Key point 3
Abnormal stiffness =
up+left shift LV EDPVR
TTE grades of diastolic dysfunction
E – Transmitral doppler of Early passive filling
A – Transmitral doppler of Atrial contraction
e’ – Tissue Doppler of early MV ring
=
Though paradoxically flips with severe DD
E/A
When extreme (>15), may correlate with LVEDP
=E/e’
Normal G1DD G2DD G3/4DD
Nagueh. Recommendations for the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function by Echocardiography. J Echocardiography. 2008.
Poor exercise tolerance – fatigue
and DOE
• Why does exercise make anyone tired?
• VO2max ~ CO x O2 extraction
• Ventilation/lactate threshold
• Normally CO increases with HR, SV, contractility while
simultaneously decreasing stiffness to improve filling
to match needs
• In HFPEF, HR limits diastolic filling time, stiffness
(EDPVR) paradoxically worsens
Larger LVEDP
necessary,
causes DOE
Limited HR and limited LVEDV
results in non-optimal use of
Frank-Starling curve, reduces
CO (and thus VO2max) and
causes fatigue
Abudiab. Cardiac Output Response to Exercise in Relation to Metabolic Demand in heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Eur J Heart Fail. 2013; (15):776-785
Poor exercise tolerance – fatigue
and DOE
• Why does exercise make anyone tired?
• VO2max ~ CO x O2 extraction
• Ventilation/lactate threshold
• Normally CO increases with HR, SV, contractility while
simultaneously decreasing stiffness to improve filling
to match needs
• In HFPEF, HR limits diastolic filling time, stiffness
(EDPVR) paradoxically worsens
Larger LVEDP
necessary,
causes DOE
Limited HR and limited LVEDV
results in non-optimal use of
Frank-Starling curve, reduces
CO (and thus VO2max) and
causes fatigue
Abudiab. Cardiac Output Response to Exercise in Relation to Metabolic Demand in heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Eur J Heart Fail. 2013; (15):776-785
Key point 4
People with HFPEF
have poor exercise
tolerance
Pathogenesis
What mediates stiffening / fibrosis? No theory is
definitive, but many acknowledge high burden of
comorbidities
One way to review is to use an anatomic approach to
disease:
• Cardiac
• Interstitial
• Cardiomyocyte
• Non-cardiac
• Vasculature
• Skeletal muscle
Microvascular inflammation
endothelium
cardiomyocyte
interstitial fibrosis
cardiomyocyte stiffening
Paulus. A Novel Paradigm for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. 2013; 62(4)
Inside the cardiomyocyte
Kavita Sharma, and David A. Kass Circulation Research. 2014;115:79-96
Non-cardiac mechanisms
Kavita Sharma, and David A. Kass Circulation Research. 2014;115:79-96
Non-cardiac mechanisms
Key point 5
No definitive
pathogenesis.
Comorbidities likely
key
Does treatment modify outcomes?
Beta blocker
ACEi/ARB
Aldosterone Ant
Digoxin
ISDN/hydralazine
Statin
.5 .75 1 1.5
ORFavors tx Favors control
HFREF
OR
.5 .75 1 1.5
Favors tx
HFPEF
Favors control
Copernicus
Comet
Merit-HF
SOLVD
CHARM Added
CHARM Alt
Val-HEFT
EMPHASIS
EPHESUS
RALES
DIG
A-HeFT
CORONA
GISSI-HF
SENIORS
OPTIMIZE
OPTIMIZE
PEP-CHF
I-PRESERVED
CHARM Preserved
OPTIMIZE
TOPCAT
DIG Ancillary
GISSI-HF
Also, phase 3 for neprilysin
inhibitor pending
Does treatment modify outcomes?
Beta blocker
ACEi/ARB
Aldosterone Ant
Digoxin
ISDN/hydralazine
Statin
.5 .75 1 1.5
ORFavors tx Favors control
HFREF
OR
.5 .75 1 1.5
Favors tx
HFPEF
Favors control
Copernicus
Comet
Merit-HF
SOLVD
CHARM Added
CHARM Alt
Val-HEFT
EMPHASIS
EPHESUS
RALES
DIG
A-HeFT
CORONA
GISSI-HF
SENIORS
OPTIMIZE
OPTIMIZE
PEP-CHF
I-PRESERVED
CHARM Preserved
OPTIMIZE
TOPCAT
DIG Ancillary
GISSI-HF
Key point 6
No treatment
significantly alters
cardiac events in
HFPEF
Key points
• Relatively recent term, HFPEF = clinical dx of CHF +
preserved EF
• Half of all CHF, just as lethal
• Characterized by abnormal stiffness (up+left shift of
LV end diastolic pressure-volume relationship – LV
EDPVR)
• Especially fragile exercise capacity, fatigue, DOE
• Unclear how it happens, comorbidities likely key
• No tx strategy for HFREF has worked in HFPEF

Hfpef

  • 1.
    Heart Failure with PreservedEjection Fraction Birju Patel, MD MPH
  • 2.
    Key points • Relativelyrecent term, HFPEF = clinical dx of CHF + preserved EF • Half of all CHF, just as lethal • Characterized by abnormal stiffness (up+left shift of LV end diastolic pressure-volume relationship – EDPVR) • Especially fragile exercise capacity, fatigue, DOE • Unclear how it happens, comorbidities likely key • No tx strategy for HFREF has worked in HFPEF
  • 3.
    Terminology Energy CAD Structure / function Cardiomyopathy Usually reservedfor genetic pathologies, excluding ischemic, valvular, hypertensive etiologies Dilated (eccentric), hypertrophic (concentric), or restrictive Congestive heart failure syndrome HFREF Systolic +/- diastolic dysfunction HFPEF Diastolic but no systolic dysfunction Electrical Arrhythmia  ~2005  ICD 9 – 1975 ICD 10 – 1990 pathology clinical physiology clinical
  • 4.
    Terminology Energy CAD Structure / function Cardiomyopathy Usually reservedfor genetic pathologies, excluding ischemic, valvular, hypertensive etiologies Dilated (eccentric), hypertrophic (concentric), or restrictive Congestive heart failure syndrome HFREF Systolic +/- diastolic dysfunction HFPEF Diastolic but no systolic dysfunction Electrical Arrhythmia  ~2005  ICD 9 – 1975 ICD 10 – 1990 pathology clinical physiology clinical Key point 1A The term HFPEF is relatively new
  • 5.
    Working definition • Clinicaldiagnosis of congestive heart failure Framingham criteria – 2 major or 1 major + 2 minor • Ejection fraction normal (>50%) • No consensus here in US on need for DD or hypertrophy Major Minor PND or orthopnea DOE Rales Nocturnal cough HJR Tachycardia S3 Ankle edema JVD (or elevated CVP) Hepatomegaly CXR pulmonary edema CXR engorged pulm vessels Cardiomegaly Pleural effusion 10lb weight loss with diuretics Decreased vital capacity HPI PE Imaging Empiric!
  • 6.
    HPI Working definition • Clinicaldiagnosis of congestive heart failure Framingham criteria – 2 major or 1 major + 2 minor • Ejection fraction normal (>50%) • No consensus here in US on need for DD or hypertrophy Major Minor PND or orthopnea DOE Rales Nocturnal cough HJR Tachycardia S3 Ankle edema JVD (or elevated CVP) Hepatomegaly CXR pulmonary edema CXR engorged pulm vessels Cardiomegaly Pleural effusion 10lb weight loss with diuretics Decreased vital capacity PE Imaging Empiric! Key point 1B HFPEF = CHF + EF>50
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Increasing proportion ofHFPEF Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
  • 9.
    Increasing proportion ofHFPEF Key point 2A Half of all CHF is HFPEF Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
  • 10.
    Admissions for HFPEFvs HFREF ¼ of CHF discharges are readmitted within 30d Mortality is high post-discharge Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
  • 11.
    Significant mortality inHFPEF Mean age 74, significant comorbidities including CAD, DM, HTN Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259.
  • 12.
    Significant mortality inHFPEF Key point 2B Significant mortality! Owan TE et al. N Engl J Med 2006;355:251-259. Mean age 74, significant comorbidities including CAD, DM, HTN
  • 13.
  • 14.
    Physiologic definition • ElevatedLVEDP (filling pressure) • Especially during exacerbation or exertion • Increased stiffness (LV EDPVR) Systolic dysfunction Impaired contractility Diastolic dysfunction Impaired relaxation Higher LVEDP Burkhoff. Heart Failure With a Normal Ejection Fraction: Is It Really a Disorder of Diastolic Function? Circulation. 2003; 107:656-658
  • 15.
    Physiologic definition • ElevatedLVEDP (filling pressure) • Especially during exacerbation or exertion • Increased stiffness (LV EDPVR) Systolic dysfunction Impaired contractility Burkhoff. Heart Failure With a Normal Ejection Fraction: Is It Really a Disorder of Diastolic Function? Circulation. 2003; 107:656-658 Key point 3 Abnormal stiffness = up+left shift LV EDPVR
  • 16.
    TTE grades ofdiastolic dysfunction E – Transmitral doppler of Early passive filling A – Transmitral doppler of Atrial contraction e’ – Tissue Doppler of early MV ring = Though paradoxically flips with severe DD E/A When extreme (>15), may correlate with LVEDP =E/e’ Normal G1DD G2DD G3/4DD Nagueh. Recommendations for the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function by Echocardiography. J Echocardiography. 2008.
  • 17.
    Poor exercise tolerance– fatigue and DOE • Why does exercise make anyone tired? • VO2max ~ CO x O2 extraction • Ventilation/lactate threshold • Normally CO increases with HR, SV, contractility while simultaneously decreasing stiffness to improve filling to match needs • In HFPEF, HR limits diastolic filling time, stiffness (EDPVR) paradoxically worsens Larger LVEDP necessary, causes DOE Limited HR and limited LVEDV results in non-optimal use of Frank-Starling curve, reduces CO (and thus VO2max) and causes fatigue Abudiab. Cardiac Output Response to Exercise in Relation to Metabolic Demand in heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Eur J Heart Fail. 2013; (15):776-785
  • 18.
    Poor exercise tolerance– fatigue and DOE • Why does exercise make anyone tired? • VO2max ~ CO x O2 extraction • Ventilation/lactate threshold • Normally CO increases with HR, SV, contractility while simultaneously decreasing stiffness to improve filling to match needs • In HFPEF, HR limits diastolic filling time, stiffness (EDPVR) paradoxically worsens Larger LVEDP necessary, causes DOE Limited HR and limited LVEDV results in non-optimal use of Frank-Starling curve, reduces CO (and thus VO2max) and causes fatigue Abudiab. Cardiac Output Response to Exercise in Relation to Metabolic Demand in heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. Eur J Heart Fail. 2013; (15):776-785 Key point 4 People with HFPEF have poor exercise tolerance
  • 19.
    Pathogenesis What mediates stiffening/ fibrosis? No theory is definitive, but many acknowledge high burden of comorbidities One way to review is to use an anatomic approach to disease: • Cardiac • Interstitial • Cardiomyocyte • Non-cardiac • Vasculature • Skeletal muscle
  • 20.
    Microvascular inflammation endothelium cardiomyocyte interstitial fibrosis cardiomyocytestiffening Paulus. A Novel Paradigm for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction. 2013; 62(4)
  • 21.
    Inside the cardiomyocyte KavitaSharma, and David A. Kass Circulation Research. 2014;115:79-96
  • 22.
    Non-cardiac mechanisms Kavita Sharma,and David A. Kass Circulation Research. 2014;115:79-96
  • 23.
    Non-cardiac mechanisms Key point5 No definitive pathogenesis. Comorbidities likely key
  • 24.
    Does treatment modifyoutcomes? Beta blocker ACEi/ARB Aldosterone Ant Digoxin ISDN/hydralazine Statin .5 .75 1 1.5 ORFavors tx Favors control HFREF OR .5 .75 1 1.5 Favors tx HFPEF Favors control Copernicus Comet Merit-HF SOLVD CHARM Added CHARM Alt Val-HEFT EMPHASIS EPHESUS RALES DIG A-HeFT CORONA GISSI-HF SENIORS OPTIMIZE OPTIMIZE PEP-CHF I-PRESERVED CHARM Preserved OPTIMIZE TOPCAT DIG Ancillary GISSI-HF Also, phase 3 for neprilysin inhibitor pending
  • 25.
    Does treatment modifyoutcomes? Beta blocker ACEi/ARB Aldosterone Ant Digoxin ISDN/hydralazine Statin .5 .75 1 1.5 ORFavors tx Favors control HFREF OR .5 .75 1 1.5 Favors tx HFPEF Favors control Copernicus Comet Merit-HF SOLVD CHARM Added CHARM Alt Val-HEFT EMPHASIS EPHESUS RALES DIG A-HeFT CORONA GISSI-HF SENIORS OPTIMIZE OPTIMIZE PEP-CHF I-PRESERVED CHARM Preserved OPTIMIZE TOPCAT DIG Ancillary GISSI-HF Key point 6 No treatment significantly alters cardiac events in HFPEF
  • 26.
    Key points • Relativelyrecent term, HFPEF = clinical dx of CHF + preserved EF • Half of all CHF, just as lethal • Characterized by abnormal stiffness (up+left shift of LV end diastolic pressure-volume relationship – LV EDPVR) • Especially fragile exercise capacity, fatigue, DOE • Unclear how it happens, comorbidities likely key • No tx strategy for HFREF has worked in HFPEF