University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Eur J Heart Fail. 2012 Jan;14(1):106-12. doi: 10.1093/eurjhf/hfr153. Epub 2011 Nov 25.
Despite major advances in our understanding of 'systolic' heart failure, at present the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and therapy of heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) is poorly understood, in large part because of the lack of robust and widely accepted diagnostic criteria. Although there is a good evidence base for the treatment of systolic heart failure, similar data are lacking for the treatment of HFpEF. Methods In our study, we will screen a consecutive series of 5000 subjects aged ≥60 from the community. Following symptom questionnaire and echocardiography, metabolic exercise testing will be used to confirm whether or not patients thought clinically to have HFpEF are in fact exercise limited and that this limitation is cardiac in origin. Blood samples for plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) will be taken at rest and following exercise in symptomatic patients and matching controls.
At the end of our study we will establish community prevalence and population characteristics of HFpEF, and also evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of current echocardiography parameters and BNP for the diagnosis of the condition.
尽管我们对“收缩性”心力衰竭的理解有了重大进展，但目前对左心室射血分数保留的心力衰竭（HFpEF）的流行病学、病理生理学和治疗仍知之甚少，这在很大程度上是因为缺乏强大且广泛接受的诊断标准。尽管有很好的治疗收缩性心力衰竭的证据基础，但缺乏类似的数据来治疗 HFpEF。
在我们的研究中，我们将对来自社区的连续 5000 名年龄≥60 岁的受试者进行筛查。在进行症状问卷调查和超声心动图检查后，将使用代谢运动测试来确认临床上认为患有 HFpEF 的患者实际上是否存在运动受限，并且这种限制是否源于心脏。有症状的患者和匹配的对照者将在休息和运动后采集血浆脑钠肽（BNP）的血液样本。
在我们的研究结束时，我们将确定 HFpEF 的社区患病率和人群特征，并评估当前超声心动图参数和 BNP 对该疾病的诊断准确性。
