OBJECTIVETo determine whether patients with suspected heart failure but preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) have systolic dysfunction in left ventricular long axis detected by left ventricular systolic atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD).

METHODSThe data of 96 patients with heart failure who admitted to our hospital between August 2007 and October 2008 were collected. Heart failure with preserved LVEF was diagnosed in 48 patients and heart failure with reduced LVEF was diagnosed in another 48 patients. Fifty age-matched healthy subjects served as the control group. The NYHA classification, etiology of heart failure, AVPD and plasma NT-proBNP concentration were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTSThere was no difference in terms of NYHA classification between patients with preserved LVEF and reduced LVEF. Hypertension and coronary heart disease were often diagnosed in heart failure patients with preserved LVEF. The degree of AVPD decrease was more significant in heart failure patients with reduced LVEF than those with preserved LVEF. In all subjects, the AVPD was negatively correlated with the NT-proBNP concentration (r = -0.35, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLeft ventricular systolic atrioventricular plane displacement was decreased in heart failure patients with preserved LVEF, therefore, besides "diastolic heart failure", systolic dysfunction was also impaired in these patients.