Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis interplay.

Abstract

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are increasingly prevalent cardiovascular conditions, particularly among the elderly population. These two conditions share common risk factors and often coexist, leading to a complex interplay that alters the clinical course of each other. The pathophysiology of HFpEF is multifaceted and intricately linked, with atrial disease serving as a common pathophysiological pathway. Diagnosis of HFpEF in the setting of AF, and vice versa, can be challenging; thus, effective screening and diagnostic strategies are needed. Understanding the complex relationship between HFpEF and AF is crucial for optimal patient management by timely disease recognition and identification of therapeutic interventions or treatment strategies.