Treatment of heart failure with a normal ejection fraction

Opinion statement

Treatment of diastolic heart failure is divided into acute and chronic management. During acute management, the focus should be treatment of the presenting syndrome, including correction of volume overload, treating hypertension, alleviating ischemia, and controlling tachyarrhythmias. Therefore, acute treatment should include several components: treating volume overload with sodium restriction and diuretics; treating ischemie heart disease with antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulants, and β blockers; treating hypertension aggressively, using multiple agents if necessary; and treating atrial tachyarrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation with rate-controlling agents, such as β blockers and possibly nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem and verapamil. Antiarrhythmic agents with or without electrical cardioversion may be necessary. Thoroughly evaluate and manage extracardiac precipitants such as anemia and renal failure. Chronic management should also focus on precipitating factors, for which adequate control of hypertension is paramount. Patient education regarding dietary and medication compliance and lifestyle changes is also important. If ischemic heart disease is present, aggressive anti-ischemic therapy is necessary, including revascularization when indicated.