What is the mainstay of treatment for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction?

The mainstay of treatment for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) primarily focuses on managing symptoms, with diuretics being crucial for this purpose. In HFpEF, the heart can still pump effectively, but the issue often lies in the heart's ability to fill properly. Patients with HFpEF frequently experience fluid overload, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath and edema.

Diuretics are essential in this context as they help relieve the excess fluid that builds up in the body, thereby alleviating symptoms and improving the patient's quality of life. By reducing this fluid overload, diuretics can help manage the congestion associated with heart failure.

While ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and digoxin have roles in treating other types of heart failure or specific patient populations, they do not address the primary issue of fluid overload in HFpEF as effectively as diuretics. Therefore, the use of diuretics is a key component in the symptomatic treatment of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.