Obesity-Related Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Potential Therapies

Abstract

Obesity is very common in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Obesity and increased adiposity have multiple adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, including hemodynamic, inflammatory, mechanical, and neurohormonal effects. Obesity and increased adiposity may be a promising target for therapy in HFpEF. This review summarizes the current understanding of the pathophysiology of obesity-related HFpEF, diagnostic evaluation of HFpEF among obese patients with dyspnea, and potential therapeutic options for the HFpEF obesity phenotype.

Keywords: Adiposity; Diagnosis; Echocardiography; Inflammation; Natriuretic peptide; Obesity.