Comorbidity and Ventricular and Vascular Structure and Function in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) display increased adiposity and multiple comorbidities, factors that in themselves may influence cardiovascular structure and function. This has sparked debate as to whether HFpEF represents a distinct disease or an amalgamation of comorbidities. We hypothesized that fundamental cardiovascular structural and functional alterations are characteristic of HFpEF, even after accounting for body size and comorbidities.