Exercise-induced B-lines for the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a two-centre study

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Abstract
Background Diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains challenging despite the use of scores/algorithms. This study intended to assess the diagnostic value of exercise lung ultrasound (LUS) for HFpEF diagnosis. Methods We studied two independent case–control studies of HFpEF patients and control subjects undergoing different exercise protocols: (i) submaximal exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) with LUS performed by expert cardiologists (N = 116, HFpEF = 65.5%), and (ii) maximal cycle ergometer test (CET) (N = 54, HFpEF = 50%) with LUS performed by unexperienced physicians shortly trained for the study. B-line kinetics (i.e. peak values and their changes from rest) were assessed. Results In the ESE cohort, the C-index (95% CI) of peak B-lines for HFpEF diagnosis was 0.985 (0.968–1.000), whereas the C-index of rest and exercise HFA-PEFF scores (i.e. including stress echo findings) were < 0.90 (CI 0.823–0.949), and that of H2FPEF score was < 0.70 (CI 0.558–0.764). The C-index increase of peak B-lines on top of the above-mentioned scores was significant (C-index increase > 0.090 and P-value < 0.001 for all). Similar results were observed for change B-lines. Peak B-lines > 5 (sensitivity = 93.4%, specificity = 97.5%) and change B-lines > 3 (sensitivity = 94.7%, specificity = 87.5%) were the best cutoffs for HFpEF diagnosis. Adding peak or change B-lines on top of HFpEF scores and BNP significantly improved diagnostic accuracy. Peak B-lines showed a good diagnostic accuracy in the LUS beginner-led CET cohort (C-index = 0.713, 0.588–0.838). Conclusions Exercise LUS showed excellent diagnostic value for HFpEF diagnosis regardless of different exercise protocols/level of expertise, with additive diagnostic accuracy on top of available scores and natriuretic peptides. Graphical abstract

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