Incidence of Preclinical Heart Failure in a Community Population.

Background A high prevalence of preclinical heart failure (HF) (Stages A and B) has previously been shown. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with the incidence of preclinical HF in a community population. Methods and Results Retrospective review of 393 healthy community individuals aged ≥45 years from the Olmsted County Heart Function Study that returned for 2 visits, 4 years apart. At visit 2, individuals that remained normal were compared with those that developed preclinical HF. By the second visit, 191 (49%) developed preclinical HF (12.1 cases per 100 person-years of follow-up); 65 (34%) Stage A and 126 (66%) Stage B. Those that developed preclinical HF (n=191) were older (=0.004), had a higher body mass index (<0.001), and increased left ventricular mass index (=0.006). When evaluated separately, increased body mass index was seen with development of Stage A (<0.001) or Stage B (=0.009). Echocardiographic markers of diastolic function were statistically different in those that developed Stage A [higher E/e' (<0.001), lower e' (<0.001)] and Stage B [higher left atrial volume index (<0.001), higher E/e' (<0.001), lower e' (<0.001)]. NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) was higher at visit 2 in those that developed Stage A or B (<0.001 for both). Hypertension (57%), obesity (34%), and hyperlipidemia (25%) were common in the development of Stage A. Of patients who developed Stage B, 71% (n=84) had moderate or severe diastolic dysfunction. Conclusions There is a high incidence of preclinical HF in a community population. Development of Stage A was driven by hypertension and obesity, while preclinical diastolic dysfunction was seen commonly in those that developed Stage B.