Abstract
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the leading cause of hospitalization in Europe, the United States and Asia. Mortality in CHF increases with each hospitalization. CHF with preserved ejection fraction (EF) occurs when the heart muscle contracts ineffectively and there is reduced blood flow in the body compared to a normally functioning heart. Numerous studies have shown that symptoms associated with heart failure, such as shortness of breath and fatigue, can negatively affect quality of life.