title: Lung function abnormalities are highly frequent in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is the most prevalent form of heart failure in outpatients. Yet, the pathophysiology of this syndrome is unclear and pharmacological treatment does not improve prognosis. Because breathlessness during activities of daily living is the most frequent complaint of patients with HFPEF, we hypothesised that lung function may be often abnormal in these patients due to either a direct effect of HFPEF and/or shared risk factors. In this study we explore the frequency, type and severity of lung function abnormalities in HFPEF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured forced spirometry, static lung volumes, pulmonary diffusing capacity (DL(CO)) and arterial blood gases in 69 outpatients with newly diagnosed symptomatic HFPEF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 94% of the patients showed abnormalities in at least one of the lung function measurements obtained: spirometry was abnormal in 59%, DL(CO) in 83% and arterial hypoxaemia was present in 62%. Their severity varied between patients, they were more prevalent in patients with NYHA functional class III/IV, and most often they were undiagnosed and untreated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lung function abnormalities are very frequent in HFPEF patients. A greater awareness among clinicians may contribute to improve their management and health status.
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: randrea@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Rut
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrea
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Giraldo
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falces
authors.affiliation: Txagorritxu Hospital, Vitoria, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), FISIB, Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sobradillo
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanchis
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gistau
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heras
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabate
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brugada
authors.affiliation: Thorax Institute, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), FISIB, Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: Alvar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agustí
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume
keywords: Airway obstruction; Diastolic; Diffusing capacity; Dyspnoea; Heart failure