epidemiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

  • up to half of all patients with the clinical features of heart failure have a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)

    • this condition is termed diastolic heart failure (DHF) or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
    • mortality in DHF patients is approximately 5-8% annually, compared with 10-15% in patients with systolic heart failure (SHF)
    • patients with DHF are typically elderly (usually >75year old) women, often overweight, with a history of systolic hypertension (associated with stiff large arteries), diabetes, coronary artery disease or atrial fibrillation

Reference:

  • 1. BHF Factfile 4/2010. Diastolic Heart Failure.