Congenital heart disease

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in adults with congenital heart disease

Eur Heart JPublished Retrospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is highly prevalent among ACHD patients, regardless of ACHD severity. It is associated with an increased burden of cardiovascular risk factors and hospitalizations. Despite this, only a minority received SGLT2 inhibitors.

Study context

Population
Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients with biventricular physiology and systemic LV, followed at ACHD centres in Eastern Denmark
Participants
4,507 patients
Exposure
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) vs normal LV function
Outcome
Prevalence of HFpEF
Methodological detailsmulticentre
  • Multicentre

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

HFpEF prevalence
HFpEF prevalence, all ACHD
13%
HFpEF prevalence, mild ACHD
13%
HFpEF prevalence, moderate ACHD
12%
HFpEF prevalence, severe ACHD
18%
Preserved LVEF
86%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeEstimateP value
Comorbidities (age-adjusted) — HFpEF vs Normal LV function · diabetes · age-adjustedOR 15.60 (95% CI 12.39–19.70)
Comorbidities (age-adjusted) — HFpEF vs Normal LV function · obesity · age-adjustedOR 1.48 (95% CI 1.17–1.87)
Comorbidities (age-adjusted) — HFpEF vs Normal LV function · AF · age-adjustedOR 4.58 (95% CI 2.22–9.88)
CV hospitalizationIRR 4.6 (95% CI 4.2–5.1)P < 0.0001
OutcomeHFpEFNormal left ventricular functionEstimateP value
Agemedian 60 (IQR 47–70) yearsNot reported in the abstractP < 0.001Normal left ventricular function: not reported in the abstract
  • Age: Normal LV function median 41 (IQR 29–56) years

HF diagnosis and SGLT2 inhibitor use in HFpEF

HF diagnosis recorded
4.0%
Treated with SGLT2 inhibitor
5.8%

Original publication

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in adults with congenital heart disease. Eur Heart J. Published 30 January 2026. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehag017

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it

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