Transition from asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: roles of systolic function and ventricular distensibility.

BACKGROUND Systolic abnormality, as well as diastolic dysfunction, is observed in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF). However, the role of these 2 conditions in the transition from asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction to symptomatic heart failure remains unclear. We recently demonstrated that diastolic wall strain (DWS) inversely correlates to the myocardial stiffness constant. METHODS AND RESULTS This study consisted of 127 subjects: 52 consecutive HFPEF patients (HFPEF group), 50 asymptomatic hypertensive patients with ejection fraction ≥50% whose age, gender and left ventricular (LV) mass index matched those of the HFPEF group (HT group) and 25 normal volunteers (Normal group). The tissue Doppler-derived peak systolic and early diastolic velocities of the mitral annulus were significantly decreased in groups HFPEF and HT than in group Normal, but were not significantly different between groups HFPEF and HT. DWS was significantly lower in group HFPEF than in group HT. CONCLUSIONS The transition from asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction stage to HFPEF stage is not attributed to progression of systolic abnormality, and exacerbation of LV distensibility rather than relaxation plays a crucial role in the development of HFPEF.