Diastolic heart failure is an overused diagnosis

Patients with suspected heart failure but preserved left ventricular systolic function are commonly said to have "diastolic heart failure." However, in a prospective study of 109 patients in primary care Caruana et al (p 215) found that these patients have a high prevalence of other conditions that could explain their symptoms (obesity, pulmonary disease, and myocardial ischaemia). They believe that the prevalence of diastolic heart failure is less than previously thought and that patients would benefit from recognition and treatment of these alternative causes of their symptoms.

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Relevant Article

Do patients with suspected heart failure and preserved left ventricular systolic function suffer from "diastolic heart failure" or from misdiagnosis? A prospective descriptive study

Lynn Caruana, Mark C Petrie, Andrew P Davie, and John J V McMurray
BMJ 2000 321: 215-218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]