Does submaximal dobutamine stress reveal coronary microvascular and energetic dysfunction in patients with HFpEF?
The study provides physiological evidence that coronary microvascular dysfunction is present in HFpEF, limiting oxygen supply relative to demand during stress.
In HFpEF during submaximal dobutamine stress, there is myocardial mechanical-, energetic- and flow-reserve dysfunction with impaired coupling of blood flow to demand and slight increases in myocardial O2 extraction. These findings provide evidence that coronary microvascular dysfunction is present in HFpEF, limits O2 supply relative to demand, and is associated with reserve dysfunction.
AbouEzzeddine et al. (Tue,) studied this question.