The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of functional electrical stimulation of peripheral muscles on clinical and emotional status, endothelial function and left ventricular diastolic function in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.
Inclusion Criteria:
(i) symptoms [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or III] and signs typical of heart failure
(ii) left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) >50% and LV end-diastolic volume index <97 mL/m2
(iii) findings of left atrial (LA) dilatation (LA volume index >40mL/m2), LV hypertrophy and/or LV diastolic dysfunction [ie, mitral E/A ratio <1 or >2, mitral E/e' ratio >15 or 8-15, (A pulmonary - A mitral) duration difference >30 ms etc)
(iv) no alterations in medical therapy during the previous 4 weeks
(v) no myocardial infarction within 3 months prior to enrollment
Exclusion Criteria:
recent (≤4 weeks) heart failure decompensation