Heart failure is a global problem that currently affects around 2% of the adult population. Healthcare costs are substantial, and people are diagnosed too late. Approximately half of patients have a type of heart failure called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), which is a complex condition with very limited treatment options. There is an urgent need to improve understanding of heart failure and to identify people that are at risk of developing it.
We aim to use information held in UK Biobank, in combination with information obtained from our local population, to break down HFpEF into more simple conditions and to create a tool that will identify people at risk of developing heart failure at an early stage. Ultimately, this work should enable the development of better, more personalised treatments for the millions of people affected by this condition.