Heart failure can be diagnosed by several investigations:

  • Echocardiogram (echo) – an ultrasound of the heart looking at the size of the heart, the efficiency of the pumping function*, the efficiency of the valves to open and close and the direction of blood flow.
  • Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMRI) – as above but with much clearer images and better views of the whole heart.
  • Coronary Angiography (angiogram) – An investigation carried out in a specialist centre where a radio-opaque dye is injected into the body and a thin catheter is introduced into the blood vessels around the heart to see the patency of the circulation around the heart.

The above investigations will measure the Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF or EF). This measurement records the amount of blood ejected by the main chamber of the left side of the heart. A normal functioning heart will eject 50-70% of the blood volume…never 100%.

*Based on this measurement we are able to specify if your type of heart failure.

  • LVEF <40% - Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF).
  • LVEF 40 – 50% - Heart Failure with Mid-Range Ejection Fraction (HFmrEF).
  • LVEF 50%+ (with symptoms, elevated BNP blood test and structural abnormalities) – Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

For more information, please visit How to Diagnose Heart Failure | Pumping Marvellous.