title: [Diastolic heart failure].
abstract: Diastolic heart failure is predominantly a disease of the elderly: at the age of 70 years, almost half of all patients with heart failure have diastolic heart failure. Hypertension and obesity are common underlying disorders in patients with diastolic heart failure. Patients with diastolic heart failure have an equal, or only slightly better, prognosis in terms of mortality compared to patients with systolic heart failure. Echocardiography can distinguish diastolic heart failure from systolic heart failure. Patients with heart failure and a normal ejection fraction almost certainly have a diastolic dysfunction. There is a lack of reliable data about the optimal medicinal treatment strategy for patients with diastolic heart failure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, and (non-dihydropyridine) calcium antagonists have therapeutic potential. Digoxin may be contraindicated.
authors.affiliation: Afd. Inwendige Geneeskunde, VU Medisch Centrum, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam. y.smulders@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Smulders
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Stehouwer
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bronzwaer
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kamp
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology*; D004077:Digoxin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004077:Digoxin