The HFpEF medical abbreviation is short for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, meaning the heart still pumps out a normal share of its blood with each beat but is too stiff to fill properly. Many people say it as one word, HEF pef, and it is usually written with a small p and e as HFpEF.
Older notes call the same problem diastolic heart failure. You will see HFpEF in cardiology notes, echo reports, discharge summaries and problem lists, often next to its counterpart HFrEF. This page explains what each letter in the HFpEF medical acronym means, how ejection fraction sorts heart failure into groups, and how a typical line reads.
At a glance
Stands for
Heart failure with preserved ejection fractionWritten as
HFpEF (most common) or HFPEF in all capitalsUsual EF cutoff
Ejection fraction of about 50% or higherOlder name
Diastolic heart failureCounterpart
HFrEF, reduced ejection fractionWhere you see it
Cardiology notes, echo reports, problem lists, discharge papers
Breaking down the HFpEF medical abbreviation
| Letters | Meaning |
|---|---|
| HF | Heart failure: the heart cannot meet the body's needs without raised pressures, which leads to fluid build up and breathlessness |
| p | Preserved, meaning kept within the normal range |
| EF | Ejection fraction: the percentage of blood in the main pumping chamber pushed out with each beat |
Put together, it describes a heart whose squeeze looks normal on a scan while the person still has the symptoms and signs of heart failure. The problem lies in relaxing and filling between beats rather than in pumping.
How ejection fraction sorts heart failure
Ejection fraction is usually measured on an echocardiogram, written TTE on many orders. The commonly used groups are below; individual guidelines and labs may word the edges slightly differently.
| Type | Typical EF |
|---|---|
| HFrEF, reduced | About 40% or lower |
| HFmrEF, mildly reduced | About 41% to 49% |
| HFpEF, preserved | About 50% or higher |
A normal EF alone does not rule out heart failure. Doctors also look at symptoms, signs of fluid, the BNP blood test and echo findings about how the heart fills.
A sample line from a cardiology note
Clinic follow up: "Chronic HFpEF, LVEF 60%, euvolemic today, continue diuretic." This says the person has long standing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and that the left ventricle pushes out about 60 percent of its blood per beat, there is no sign of extra fluid at this visit, and the water pill stays in the plan. It shows the format only.
LVEF means left ventricular ejection fraction. Euvolemic means a normal fluid balance, while words such as volume overloaded or edema mean the body is holding extra fluid.
Conditions often listed with HFpEF
HFpEF is common in older adults and often travels with other long term conditions. Problem lists frequently show HTN for high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. Long standing high blood pressure can thicken the heart wall, sometimes written LVH, which makes the chamber stiffer.
Because so many factors play a part, care plans for HFpEF often focus on managing fluid, blood pressure and these related conditions together. The broader term CHF may appear in the same chart and covers heart failure of any type.
HFpEF versus HFrEF at a glance
Both are heart failure, and both can cause shortness of breath, tiredness and swollen ankles. The difference is the main mechanism. In HFrEF the muscle squeezes weakly. In HFpEF the squeeze is fine but the chamber is stiff, so pressure backs up into the lungs when it fills. The two groups respond differently to some medicines, which is one reason cardiologists record the type so carefully.
Other cardiac terms are explained in the same plain style across the conditions hub.
Heart failure care is tailored to each person. Talk with your cardiology team about what your ejection fraction and HFpEF label mean for you.
Frequently asked questions
What does HFpEF stand for?
It is short for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The heart squeezes out a normal share of its blood but does not relax and fill well.
Is HFpEF the same as diastolic heart failure?
Largely yes. Diastolic heart failure is the older name, and HFpEF is the term most cardiology notes use now because it is defined by the measured ejection fraction.
What EF counts as preserved?
An ejection fraction of about 50 percent or higher is usually called preserved. Between about 41 and 49 percent is called mildly reduced, and about 40 percent or lower is reduced.
How do you pronounce HFpEF?
Most clinicians say it as a single word, HEF pef. Its partner HFrEF is usually said HEF ref.