The early heart failure with preserved ejection fraction study
Aim The early HFpEF study aims to investigate the association of clinical characteristics, natriuretic peptides, vascular calcification, vascular stiffness and functional cardiac abnormalities as detected by echocardiography with the presence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in persons with diabetes mellitus type 2.
Heart failure is the second most common cardiovascular complication among patients with type 2 diabetes and approximately 70% of the people with diabetes type 2 and heart failure develop a specific type of heart failure, namely heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Stiffness of the cardiac muscle, leading to relaxation impairment of the heart muscle, is more frequently observed in patients with type 2 diabetes and is believed to be a preclinical stage in the development of HFpEF. Several risk factors have been proposed to be associated with development of HFpEF in people with diabetes, including metabolic factors (glycaemia, inflammation), vascular calcification and vascular stiffness. However, a comprehensive study of the clinical characteristics, natriuretic peptides and echo measures associated with HFpEF, or its preclinical stages, in diabetes patients is currently lacking. Therefore we aim to investigate the association of clinical characteristics, natriuretic peptides, vascular calcification, vascular stiffness and functional cardiac abnormalities as detected by echocardiography with presence of HFpEF in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Funding: ZonMw Vidi Grant (granted to Joline Beulens)
Team
Joline Beulens is the principal investigator and coordinator of the Early HFpEF study. Furthermore, Joline Beulens and Petra Elders are involved in the supervision of the PhD students working on the Early HFpEF project.