TOPLINE:
Assessing left atrial volume and natriuretic peptides (LA/NP) can identify heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with an 88% specificity and 97% positive predictive value. The strategy reduces the need for additional diagnostics by decreasing intermediate Heart Failure Association pre-test assessment, echocardiography & natriuretic peptide, functional testing, final etiology (HFA-PEFF) or H₂FPEF (Heavy, two or more hypertensive drugs, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, elder age > 60 years, elevated filling pressures) algorithm scores by 27%-56%.
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers developed the diagnostic approach to rule in HFpEF using LA indexed for height 2 (LAViH 2 ; cut-off above 35.5 mL/m 2 in sinus rhythm or above 38.6 mL/m 2 in atrial fibrillati