UNASSIGNED: The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the diagnostic potential of various cardiac parameters in differentiating between heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with mid-ranged and reduced ejection fraction (HFm + rEF), and to discern their relationship with normal cardiac function.
UNASSIGNED: This research encompassed a comparative analysis of heart failure subtypes based on multiple indicators. Participants were categorized into HFm + rEF, HFpEF, and control groups. For each participant, we investigated indicators of left ventricular function (LVEDVi, LVESVi, and LVEF) and myocardial strain parameters (GLS, GCS, GRS). Additionally, quantitative tissue evaluation parameters including native T1, enhanced T1, and extracellular volume (ECV) were examined.For comprehensive diagnostic performance analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluations for each parameters were conducted.
UNASSIGNED: HFm + rEF patients exhibited elevated LVEDVi and LVESVi and decreased LVEF compared to both HFpEF and control groups. Myocardial strain revealed significant reductions in GLS, GCS, and GRS for HFm + rEF patients compared to the other groups. HFpEF patients showed strain reductions relative to the control group. In cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) evaluations, HFm + rEF patients demonstrated heightened native T1 times and ECV fractions. Native T1 was particularly effective in distinguishing HFpEF from healthy subjects.
UNASSIGNED: Native T1, ECV, and myocardial strain parameters have substantial diagnostic value in identifying HFpEF. Among them, native T1 displayed superior diagnostic efficiency relative to ECV, offering critical insights into early-stage HFpEF. These findings can play a pivotal role in refining clinical management and treatment strategies for heart failure patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent of the left ventricular (LV) diffuse myocardial fibrosis and the association with the degree of impaired myocardial strain in different stages of heart failure.
BACKGROUND: The increased diffuse myocardial fibrosis impairs the LV systolic and diastolic function. Previous studies found that the global longitudinal strain (GLS) impacted survival in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, limited data are available regarding the association between the degree of diffuse myocardial fibrosis and the severity of impaired myocardial strain in HFpEF.
METHODS: Sixty-six consecutive participants with heart failure (HF), and 15 healthy controls underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examination. T1 mapping to calculate extracellular volume fractions (ECV) were used to assess diffuse myocardial fibrosis. ECV and myocardial strains were compared among the 3 groups. Associations between these two factors were also explored.
RESULTS: The patients with HFpEF showed increased myocardial ECV fractions (32.9 % ± 3.7 % vs. 29.2 % ± 2.9 %, p < 0.001) compared with the control group. The patients with HFm + rEF also had increased myocardial ECV fractions (36.8 % ± 5.4 % vs. 32.9 % ± 3.7 %, p < 0.001) compared with HFpEF. The myocardial ECV was significantly correlated with the GLS (r = 0.422, p = 0.020), global circumferential strain (GCS) (r = 0.491, p = 0.006), and global radial strain (GRS) (r = -0.533, p = 0.002) in the HFpEF groups, but no significant correlation was found in the HFm + rEF group (GLS: r = -0.002, p = 0.990; GCS: r = 0.153, p = 0.372; GRS: r = 0.070, p = 0.685) CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HF, only patients with HFpEF exhibited a significant correlation between increased diffuse myocardial fibrosis and impaired myocardial strain. Diffuse myocardial fibrosis plays a unique role in affecting myocardial strain in patients with HFpEF.