Clinical features of chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with essential arterial hypertension

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the clinical condition, health-related quality of life, level of physical activity, and cardiac structural-functional characteristics in individuals diagnosed with chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Materials and methods. The study enrolled 72 patients between 47 and 77 years of age who met diagnostic criteria for HFpEF. The evaluation protocol incorporated assessment of clinical status, completion of the Minnesota Heart Failure Quality of Life Questionnaire, the six-minute walk test, comprehensive echocardiographic examination, and quantification of serum NT-proBNP. Results. Exertional dyspnea represented the most frequent presenting complaint, reported by 95.8 percent of participants. Structural myocardial alterations and functional impairment were more severe among patients with higher functional class. Median quality-of-life scores were 21.5 [14.5; 40.0] in men and 48.5 [36.0; 59.0] in women. Physical-exercise tolerance demonstrated a significant correlation with quality-of-life indices (r = -0.39; p = 0.002). Conclusions. Echocardiographic signs of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were present in all subjects. Advancing functional class of heart failure corresponded with progressive myocardial hypertrophy, decline in quality of life, and reduced exercise capacity. Male patients showed better quality-of-life measurements compared with female patients. Diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease were associated with a more unfavorable HFpEF course.