Exercise‐induced B‐lines in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction occur along with diastolic function worsening

Aims Pulmonary congestion during exercise assessed by lung ultrasound predicts negative outcome in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We aimed at assessing predictors of exercise‐induced pulmonary B‐lines in HFpEF patients. Methods and results Eighty‐one I–II NYHA class HFpEF patients (65.0 ± 8.2 y/o, 56.8% females) underwent standard and strain echocardiography, lung ultrasound, and natriuretic peptide assessment during supine exercise echocardiography (baseline and peak exercise). Peak values and their changes were compared in subgroups according to exercise lung congestion grading (peak B‐lines >10 or ≤10). Exercise elicited significant changes for all echocardiographic parameters in both subgroups [39/81 (48.1%) with peak B‐lines >10; 42/81 (51.9%) with B‐lines ≤10]. Peak values and changes of E‐wave (and its derived indices) were significantly higher in patients with >10 peak B‐lines compared with those with ≤10 B‐line (all P‐values 10 (all P‐values