Purpose of review: To clarify the importance of pulmonary hypertension in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Recent findings: Pulmonary hypertension is frequently present in HFpEF because of both elevated pulmonary venous pressure and some element of pulmonary vasoconstriction. HFpEF may be the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension in the elderly. The noninvasive detection of pulmonary hypertension can distinguish patients with HFpEF from those with diastolic dysfunction without heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension may be an important target for treatment of HFpEF. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are a promising method to treat pulmonary hypertension because of HFpEF.
Summary: Pulmonary hypertension is an important contributor to the pathophysiology of HFpEF, can be used to recognize HFpEF and may be an important target for therapy.