The role of diastolic transthoracic stress echocardiography with incremental workload in the evaluation of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: indications, methodology, interpretation. Expert consensus developed under the auspices of the National Medical Research Center of Cardiology, Society of Experts in Heart Failure (SEHF), and Russian Association of Experts in Ultrasound Diagnosis in Medicine (REUDM)

Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with certain difficulties since many patients with HFpEF have a slight left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and normal filling pressure at rest. Diagnosis of HFpEF is improved by using diastolic transthoracic stress-echocardiography with dosed exercise (or diastolic stress test), which allows detection of increased filling pressure during the exercise. The present expert consensus explains the requirement for using the diastolic stress test in diagnosing HFpEF from clinical and pathophysiological standpoints; defines indications for the test with a description of its methodological aspects; and addresses issues of using the test in special patient groups.