AI Insight
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) affects approximately 3 million people in the United States and is increasing in prevalence. This form of heart failure is more common in women than men and is associated with aging, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity as primary risk factors. More than 80% of HFpEF patients also experience pulmonary hypertension, characterized by elevated blood pressure in the lung vasculature.
Why it matters
The rising prevalence of HFpEF represents a significant public health concern as the population ages and rates of obesity and diabetes continue to increase. Understanding this condition is critical for developing targeted treatments, particularly for women who are disproportionately affected and for managing the common comorbidity of pulmonary hypertension.
Understand the Science
Approximately 3 million people in the United States are living with a condition called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF. The number of people with this form of heart failure, which is more common in women than men, is growing alongside a rise in risk factors like aging, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Additionally, more than 80% of HFpEF patients also face pulmonary hypertension, or increased blood pressure in the vasculature of the lungs.
Source: Doctors and scientists race to understand a rising form of heart failure