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Perception of symptoms is out of proportion to cardiac pathology in patients with "diastolic heart failure"

Ingle, L.; Cleland, J. G.F.; Clark, Andrew L.

Authors

J. G.F. Cleland

Andrew L. Clark



Abstract

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that "diastolic heart failure" (DHF) is common and has a prognosis similar to that of systolic heart failure (SHF). We wanted to assess whether patients with breathlessness who were being treated for DHF had objective evidence of cardiac impairment and exercise limitation. Methods: Consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic heart failure completed a standardised 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) and underwent an echocardiography examination to determine the presence of major structural heart disease (MSHD). N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was measured to determine degree of cardiac pathology. Results: 568 patients were identified with SHF (75.7% males) and 104 with DHF (54.7% males). They were compared with 400 healthy controls (matched with DHF group for age, sex and body mass index (BMI)). Controls (median (interquartile range); 43 (20-62) pmol/l)) and DHF patients (27 (13-67) pmol/l) had significantly lower NT-proBNP levels compared to SHF patients (178 (82-422) pmol/l). There was no difference in NT-proBNP levels between controls and DHF patients (p = 0.348). There was no correlation between BMI and NT-proBNP in either DHF (r 2 = 0.03; p = 0.287) or SHF (r 2 = 0.02; p = 0.346) patients. Both SHF and DHF patients reported similar degrees of breathlessness. 6-MWT distance (p = 0.973) was similar between SHF and DHF patients. DHF patients had a higher BMI (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Patients being treated for a clinical diagnosis of DHF have the same self-reported symptoms and 6-MWT performance as patients with SHF, yet have normal NT-proBNP levels. Their perception of their symptoms is out of proportion to their evidence of cardiac pathology.

Citation

Ingle, L., Cleland, J. G., & Clark, A. L. (2008). Perception of symptoms is out of proportion to cardiac pathology in patients with "diastolic heart failure". Heart, 94(6), 748-753. https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.2007.131144

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 6, 2007
Online Publication Date May 14, 2008
Publication Date 2008-06
Deposit Date May 7, 2019
Journal Heart
Print ISSN 1355-6037
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 94
Issue 6
Pages 748-753
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.2007.131144
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/738579
Publisher URL https://heart.bmj.com/content/94/6/748