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Treating diastolic heart failure

Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Correspondence to:
Dr A A Voors, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands; a.a.voors@thorax.umcg.nl

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In around half of patients diagnosed with heart failure, a relatively preserved systolic function (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >0.40–0.50) is found. These patients are generally diagnosed with diastolic heart failure or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Owing to an ageing population and an increased incidence of hypertension and diabetes, this percentage is expected to increase in the near future.

The diagnosis of diastolic heart failure is challenging. In a consensus statement of the European Society of Cardiology, the definition of diastolic heart failure is based on signs and symptoms of heart failure, a relatively preserved left ventricular systolic function (LVEF >0.40–0.50), evidence of diastolic dysfunction on echocardiography and raised natriuretic peptides.¹

Treatment of diastolic heart failure is hampered by the absence of evidence for a specific drug that can reduce mortality and morbidity in these patients. Theoretically, a number of treatments might benefit patients with diastolic heart failure. . . . [Full text of this article]