HF r EF HF p EF

[Prada47]

Hello

Sorry for using abbreviations, but thought they may catch the attention of someone who knows the answer !!!

Question is how do you tell if you are classified as reduced or preserved my EF is currently 39 % which has reduced from 44 % which I have maintained for around 6 years. I believe this was in part to being on the Entresto 48/51 mg and the 7.5mg Bisoprolol, ( I am classed as at Maximum/ Optimal Medication ) I see the Cardiologist early May for a face to face at his request to discuss if there is anything he can do for my symptoms. Short of Breath for no apparent reason one day I can walk for miles and the next day I can get short of breath in no time at all !!!

I was just reading about a new drug Empagliflozin in the article it is still pedaling the line that one in five patients with HF dies within a year of diagnosis, no mention of how old these unfortunate people are when the expire, or what other ailments they may have. I am at 7years since diagnosis of HF and I have no intention of going anywhere, anytime soon. Hope this helps someone who is concerned about HF.

ps I will be 75 very soon and have had bypass surgery and stents so there is life for a long time after diagnosis LOL

Best Regards

[Lezzers]

I presume you're talking about the news item in the daily fail!! Its shocking that they report in this way just to headline grab!! HF with no reduced EF is HFpEF and reduced EF is HFrEF. Like Kevin your EF is reduced below what is considered normal so you have HFrEF. Hope that helps X

[francesw47]

Hi

Shocked that a national newspaper should still suggest such a low mortality rate! I'm still here 3 years on.....

My understanding of HFrEF is same as Lezzers - HF where ejection fraction (EF) lower than 50 or 55% (which is normal EF)....so Heart Failure with reduced Ejection Fraction. Making this acronym fit your description of your diagnosis. But don't take my word for it.....ask the cardiologist when you see him.

Great to read that you carry on carrying on in spite of the dire warnings from the Daily thingy. I intend to do same!

Frances

[uzininemm]

I agree it is an awful statistic to generally push, but the papers aren't the only doing it.

I would only hope that if such publications come to the BHF publicity department for information they do remind them that this statistic is no longer relevant.

I also wonder if the medical profession on diagnosis could do more even if it was only to tell people, everyone is different to stick to reputable sites like the NHS or BHF etc and not to believe everything you read in the papers or on Dr Google.

[CraftingNancy]

Wow, thanks for heads up, so very glad I didn't read DM article. I was diagnosed last October with HFrEF of 15% get the impression I was nearly not here. Meds have increased EF to 20-25%, on waiting list for ICD, I am 59, so very much hoping for at least another 10 years. I am taking Dapagliflozin but not added until the other meds were stable, so not sure if that's relevant. Good luck 🤞

[FeetheBookworm]

When I was first diagnosed with HF my EF was 17, it slowly crept up and within 2 years of meds & HF diet it was 43 and has stabilised at that. I had an ICD about 6 months after diagnosis. I was diagnosed 5 1/2yrs ago & am pretty good now. Still have days of being v tired, and get chest infections & colds at the drop of a hat during the winter but otherwise fine. I’m trying to walk 10,000 steps a day and only occasionally hitting it at the moment. Once the weather improves I will go back to walking the dogs twice a day and that should do the trick. I think half the problem is the name Heart Failure. It sounds like we are all going to pop our clogs PDQ! When in reality with the meds and a good diet - lots of oily fish (mackerel), veggies & salad there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a reasonably good outcome. After all who knows how long any of us are going to live for.