Cardiac Fibrosis

The goals of this research will be to define some of the mechanisms underlying the progression and complications of heart failure (HF) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFPEF) Aim 1: to evaluate the differences in cardiac structure, function and fibrosis markers through the spectrum of HF stages in order to deepen the understanding of the pathophysiology driving HF progression. Aim 2: to define the mechanisms by which HF risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and renal insufficiency, interact with age to increase HF risk, and to evaluate the role of precipitating factors such as myocardial ischemia, atrial fibrillation in HFPEF. Aim 3: to determine prognostic factors in HFPEF patients, by following these patients over time. Accordingly the investigators will correlate baseline data (echocardiographic, MRI or biomarkers) with incident cardiovascular events and determine whether these measures provide incremental prognostic information beyond clinical characteristics.