[Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Effective Treatment Possible?]

Abstract

Chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for about 50% of cases of heart failure, but pharmacotherapy that improves its outcomes has not been developed. The proven principle of improving outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure with a reduced of left ventricular ejection fraction is the decrease in heart rate. The article discusses situations in which treatment with β-blockers is not effective or negatively affects outcomes. The results of own research and the EDIFY project, in which ivabradine was used in patients with HFpEF, were compared. The importance of phenotyping patients with HFpEF is stated to increase the effectiveness of their therapy.

Keywords: chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, β-blockers, ivabradine, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.