Heart failure is a public health issue that affects 64 million individuals worldwide, of whom up to 55% have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HfpEF) (McDonagh, 2021). Hypertension is a predominant and common risk factor for HF and plays a crucial role in the development and progression of HFpEF ((McDonagh, 2021). As a result, managing blood pressure is a vital aspect of clinical care for hypertensive individuals with HFpEF. Primary care providers (PCPs) have an essential role in managing HFpEF in collaboration with specialists (Hossain, 2022). However, several studies show that diagnosing and managing HFpEF presents significant challenges for physicians, with considerable practice gaps in the clinical approach to this complex condition (Gupta, 2021). Compared with specialists, PCPs were more likely to underestimate HFpEF mortality and were less aware of sex-related differences in the prevalence of HFpEF and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). In addition, fewer PCPs utilized natriuretic peptides for diagnosis, often citing cost and availability as obstacles to using these peptides. The current treatment strategy for HFpEF focuses on volume control using diuretics, and MRAs represent another class of medication that could be considered (Omote, Verbrugge, and Borlaug, 2022; Tsutsui, 2022).
Crucially, the management of comorbidities and lifestyle modifications, including weight loss and exercise, play  pivotal roles in the effective management of HFpEF (Omote, Verbrugge, and Borlaug, 2022; Tsutsui, 2022). However, challenges remain for clinicians (Sowden, 2020;  Hossain, 2022). This podcast will address the increasing prevalence of HFpEF, the growing ageing population, the rising prevalence of HFpEF risk factors and comorbidities, physicians’ limited knowledge about diagnosing and managing HFpEF, and the need to educate physicians to enable the early and accurate diagnosis and proper management of HFpEF.