Cardiology: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

General Medicine · Cardiology: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Sample item

A 70-year-old man with type 2 diabetes has heart failure with an ejection fraction of 55 percent and persistent symptoms despite diuretics. Which drug class has been shown to reduce heart failure hospitalisation?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. SGLT2 inhibitors

Empagliflozin and dapagliflozin reduced the composite of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalisation in trials of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. They are the best-supported disease-modifying drugs in this group. Beta-blockers, digoxin and nitrates have not shown such benefit.

Option by option

  • A. Long-acting nitrates

    Nitrates reduced activity levels in a randomised HFpEF trial and offer no benefit.

  • B. SGLT2 inhibitors (correct)

    Correct. SGLT2 inhibitors reduce HF events in preserved EF.

  • C. Beta-blockers

    Beta-blockers have no proven benefit in HFpEF.

  • D. Digoxin

    Digoxin does not improve outcomes in HFpEF.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is B, SGLT2 inhibitors. Empagliflozin and dapagliflozin reduced the composite of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalisation in trials of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Why is "Long-acting nitrates" not the answer?

Nitrates reduced activity levels in a randomised HFpEF trial and offer no benefit.

Why is "Beta-blockers" not the answer?

Beta-blockers have no proven benefit in HFpEF.

Why is "Digoxin" not the answer?

Digoxin does not improve outcomes in HFpEF.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiology: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in General Medicine. They are the best-supported disease-modifying drugs in this group. Beta-blockers, digoxin and nitrates have not shown such benefit.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Cardiology: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.