title: Epidemiology and diagnosis of heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: rationale and design of the study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite major advances in our understanding of 'systolic' heart failure, at present the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and therapy of heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) is poorly understood, in large part because of the lack of robust and widely accepted diagnostic criteria. Although there is a good evidence base for the treatment of systolic heart failure, similar data are lacking for the treatment of HFpEF.  Methods In our study, we will screen a consecutive series of 5000 subjects aged ≥60 from the community. Following symptom questionnaire and echocardiography, metabolic exercise testing will be used to confirm whether or not patients thought clinically to have HFpEF are in fact exercise limited and that this limitation is cardiac in origin. Blood samples for plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) will be taken at rest and following exercise in symptomatic patients and matching controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the end of our study we will establish community prevalence and population characteristics of HFpEF, and also evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of current echocardiography parameters and BNP for the diagnosis of the condition.
authors: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
authors: Gnanadevan
authors: G
authors: Mahadevan
authors: Girish
authors: G
authors: Dwivedi
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: Williams
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Steeds
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Frenneaux
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D013318:Stroke Volume; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain