Nevertheless, current estimates indicate that HFpEF is starting to emerge as the most prevalent HF subtype (compared with HFrEF) in Canada and the United States, especially relative to the rest of the world. Both subtypes are fairly common, with HFpEF comprising approximately 44% to 72% of cases, although it is difficult to make precise estimates as the exact LVEF cut-off for HFpEF versus HFrEF has varied over time and across geographic regions. Those with preserved EF are labeled as suffering from HF with preserved EF (HFpEF).

Broadly speaking, patients with an LVEF ≤40% are classified as suffering from a subtype of HF known as HF with reduced EF (HFrEF). Practice guidelines recommend different interventional strategies according to the degree of preserved (or reduced) EF. The degree to which ejection fraction (EF) is reduced can be an indicator of what part of, and to what degree, the heart has been damaged. One of the ways in which HF is categorized is by the degree to which a patient’s left ventricle retains the ability to pump out the blood it receives-known as the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

To do so, it is important for clinicians to be able to reliably assess disease progression and severity.

From both a systems and patient-centered perspective, clinicians caring for patients with HF have a strong desire to reduce hospitalizations. HF is the leading cause of hospitalizations in the country, costing Canadians an estimated Can $3 billion annually. Heart failure (HF), a global epidemic, is a complex chronic progressive condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

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