Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3019804 | Revista Española de Cardiología Suplementos | 2006 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
Diastolic heart failure (i.e., heart failure with preserved systolic function) accounts for 30%-50% of all cases of heart failure. Prognosis is almost as poor as with systolic heart failure. Currently, the only requirements for diagnosis are that strict clinical criteria for heart failure are satisfied and that the left ventricular ejection fraction is preserved (i.e., greater than 40%-50%), although in the future measurement of brain natriuretic peptides could be useful. Because of a lack of evidence from large clinical trials, with the exception of the CHARM study which showed that candesartan slightly reduced the hospital readmission rate, therapy is based on the identification and treatment of the causal condition (e.g., hypertension or coronary heart disease), heart rate control, and relief of congestion. Thus, combination treatment with low-dose diuretics, bradycardiac antihypertensives (e.g., betablockers or calcium antagonists), and angiotensin antagonists currently seems to be the best therapeutic approach.
Related Topics
Health Sciences
Medicine and Dentistry
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Authors
Manuel Anguita Sánchez, Soledad Ojeda Pineda,