Obesity and Comorbidities in HFpEF: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis in a University Hospital Setting

Hobbach, Anastasia Janina; Brix, Tobias Johannes; Weyer-Elberich, Veronika; Varghese, Julian; Reinecke, Holger; Linke, Wolfgang Albrecht

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) poses a diagnostic challenge, as it lacks a definitive hallmark beyond preserved left ventricular (LV)EF. This retrospective study aims to analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics of HFpEF patients within a real-world hospital cohort, with a particular focus on obesity and associated comorbidities. Methods: A total of 4019 patients who underwent echocardiography in 2020–2021 at a university hospital were screened for HFpEF. After stringent manual verification, 219 patients fulfilled the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) criteria for HFpEF. Demographic, clinical, and comorbidity data were analyzed and stratified by body mass index (BMI) categories and sex distribution. Results: Among the 219 HFpEF patients, 71.3% were classified as pre-obese or obese. Hypertension (93.6%), atrial fibrillation (74.3%), and obesity were common in the cohort, while sex distribution was balanced. Edema was more prevalent among obese patients, though HFpEF severity, as reflected by New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification and natriuretic peptide levels, did not differ significantly across BMI groups. Medical treatment patterns varied with BMI, with obese patients more frequently receiving diuretics, sodium- glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). No significant differences were observed between male and female patients in terms of HFpEF severity markers. Conclusions: Obesity is a predominant feature in HFpEF and is associated with a high burden of comorbidities. However, sex does not appear to influence HFpEF severity in this cohort. These findings underscore the need for targeted therapeutic strategies in obese HFpEF patients.