Early Identification of Patients at Risk for Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Novel Approach to Echocardiographic Trends.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) continues to increase in prevalence with a 50% mortality rate within 3 years of diagnosis, but lacking effective evidence-based therapies. Specific echocardiographic markers are not typically used to trigger alarm before acute HFpEF decompensation. The goal of this study was to retrospectively track changes in echocardiographic markers leading to the time of incident HFpEF hospitalization.

Evolving Use of Biomarkers in the Management of Heart Failure.

Objective, noninvasive, clinical assessment of patients with heart failure can be made using biomarker measurements, including natriuretic peptides, cardiac troponins, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2, and galectin-3. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with guidance on the use of heart failure biomarkers in clinical practice. The authors provide a didactic narrative based on current literature, an exemplary case study, and their clinical experience.