Dyspnea is the frequent cause of exercise intolerance and physical inactivity among chronic heart failure patients. Diastolic dysfunction has shown significant correlation with exercise capacity. The aim is to study whether there is interaction between left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and functional capacity in our CHF patients.

1613 consecutive ambulatory patients with chronic heart failure were enrolled from 2006 to 2013 and registered in the therapeutic unit of chronic heart failure. Clinical, echocardiographic and biological data were investigated. We divided our patients into 2 groups as follow: group 1with reducing filling pressure (64 years, 67% were male), group 2 with elevated filling pressure (EFP) (69 years, 61% were male). We analyzed New York heart association (NYHA) status and the 6minutes’ walk test. Assessment of diastolic function as determined by Doppler-derived mitral and pulmonary venous flow velocities recorded by transthoracic pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

There was no significant difference in baseline characteristic and ejection fraction. The mean of 6minutes’ walk in groups were 349 and 212m respectively.

Group 2 (EFP) was significantly associated with more NYHA grade III/IV (p<0.00001), inversely associated with NYHA grade I/II (p<0.0001). The 6minutes’ walk test was shorter in EFP patients than others (P<0.01). There was a significant correlation between diastolic dysfunction and cardiac decompensation (p=0.00001), right ventricular dysfunction (p=0.00001), pulmonary hypertension (p=0.00001), dilated vena cava and higher doses of diuretics (p=0.00001). Also, beta-blockers were inversely associated (P<0.0001).

Diastolic dysfunction is significantly associated with impaired functional capacity and dyspnea among CHF patients.