Abstract
Background: The association between heart rate (HR) reductions caused by ivabradine and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains uncertain because of off-label use. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of HR reductions by ivabradine on LV diastolic function in HFpEF patients. Methods and Results: This study enrolled 16 HFpEF patients with HR ≥75 beats/min. After 3 months administration of ivabradine, no significant changes were observed in mitral inflow E and mitral e' annular velocities, B-type natriuretic peptide, or left atrial volume index, but there were significant improvements in global longitudinal strain. Conclusions: Ivabradine did not improve LV diastolic function for HFpEF patients with HR ≥75 beats/min. Because this may be due to some study limitations, further studies should be conducted.