Congestive heart failure in subjects with normal versus reduced left ventricular ejection fraction Prevalence and mortality in a population-based cohort

AbstractOBJECTIVESThe purpose of this study was to assess the relative proportions of normal versus impaired left ventricular (LV) systolic function among persons with congestive heart failure (CHF) in the community and to compare their long-term mortality during follow-up.BACKGROUNDSeveral hospital-based investigations have reported that a high proportion of subjects with CHF have normal LV systolic function. The prevalence and prognosis of CHF with normal LV systolic function in the community are not known.METHODSWe evaluated the echocardiograms of 73 Framingham Heart Study subjects with CHF (33 women, 40 men, mean age 73 years) and 146 age- and gender-matched control subjects (nested case–control study). Impaired LV systolic function was defined as an LV ejection fraction (LVEF)