A presenter at the COPD 2024 International Conference spoke about the ease with which heart failure and preserved ejection factor (HfpE) is misdiagnosed in COPD patients due to the similarity in symptoms.

As reported in Helio.com, the speaker suggested that it is time to examine the overlap of COPD and heart failure.

What is the HfpE

Jennifer Quint PhD, an epidemiology professor at London’s Imperial College, explained that HfpE is a condition whereby a person’s heart pumps a normal amount of blood, but it cannot fill properly due to stiffening of the ventricle walls resulting in impaired diastolic function.

Professor Quint emphasized HFpEF during her presentation noting its impact on COPD patients.

Professor Quint listed endothelial dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and lung hyperinflation as several mechanisms that link HFpEF to COPD.

The professor also explained that due to the variety of conditions associated with HFpEF such as hypertension, obesity, and kidney impairment there is at present no treatment available to treat all categories of patients.

Professor Quint explained that patients with heart failure are generally male, older, and “gold state” 3 and 4.

The professor went on to say that physicians need to think about the other conditions that are related to HFpEF and move in the direction of personalized treatment.

She cautioned that symptoms of HFpEF and COPD tend to shadow each other often resulting in misdiagnosis. The professor stressed the importance of intensification (exacerbation) of a condition which raises the risk of acute cardiovascular events such as heart failure.

Regarding heart failure, the EU Society of Cardiovascular guidelines reports that patients who have COPD plus HFpEF are at greater risk of mortality. Again, she emphasized that COPD should be considered as a significant risk factor independently with respect to heart failure.

Quoting a study that was published in Thorax, she said to remember that when heart failure is managed appropriately, the risk of exacerbation in COPD is diminished.

Source: Healio.com