Lung ultrasound in patients with suspected HFpEF

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the present study was to test correlation of laboratory, echocardiographic and clinical parameters with recently developed scores for HFpEF diagnostics in patients with exertional dyspnea and preserved ejection fraction. Methods We performed rest and stress echocardiography, rest and peak exercise B-lines count assessed by 8 zone LUS, cardiopulmonary exercise test and laboratory testing in 47 patients (age 62,6±92 years; 57,4% females) refferred for exertional dyspnea. H2FPEF and HFA-PEFF score was calculated for each patient. Results H2FPEF score correlated significantly with rest B-lines count (r=0,350, p=0,016). We observed negative correlation of H2FPEF with peak workload (r=−0,558, p<0,001) and peakVO2 (r=−0,519, p<0,001). HFA-PEFF score correlated with peak workload (r=−0,468, p<0,001) and peakVO2 (r=−0,403, p=0,009). No correlation of B-lines count with HFA-PEFF score was observed. We also observed significant correlation of HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF (r=0,545, p<0,001). HFpEF was diagnosed in 17 patients according to ESC guidelines. Patients with HFpEF had higher HFA-PEFF score (4,0±1,1 vs 1,9±1,4; p<0,001) and H2FPEF score (4,2±1,8 vs 2,2±1,8; p<0,001) and lower peakVO2 (17,0±4,8 ml/kg/min vs 22,9±5,6 ml/kg/min; p=0,001) and workload (1,3±0,4 W/kg vs 1,8±0,6 W/kg; p=0,002). B-lines count was similar in HFpEF patients and rest of population. Conclusion According to our data it seems that recently developed scores HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF would be more useful for HFpEF diagnostics than B-lines scoring. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None