From the Guidelines
Yes, it is possible for someone to have an ejection fraction of 80%. The normal range for ejection fraction is typically considered to be between 50-70%, with an average of about 60% 1. An ejection fraction of 80% would be considered higher than average, but not necessarily abnormal. According to recent guidelines, a left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 50% is considered to indicate a low risk for certain cardiac conditions 1. However, it's essential to note that an ejection fraction of 80% could potentially indicate a hyperdynamic heart condition, which might occur in situations such as high cardiac output states or could be a measurement error. Some possible causes of a high ejection fraction include:
- High cardiac output states (like severe anemia, hyperthyroidism, or during pregnancy)
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick
- Measurement error If someone receives a test showing an 80% ejection fraction, they should discuss this finding with their healthcare provider to determine if additional testing or evaluation is needed to understand the cause of this measurement. The classification of heart failure based on ejection fraction, as defined by a recent expert panel, does not directly address ejection fractions above 70% 1.
From the Research
Ejection Fraction and Beta-Blockers
- The ejection fraction (EF) is a measure of how much blood the left ventricle of the heart pumps out with each contraction, and it is an important predictor of survival in patients with left ventricular dysfunction 2.
- Beta-blockers are a type of medication that can improve EF in patients with heart failure, and they are often used to treat heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) 3, 2, 4, 5.
- Studies have shown that beta-blockers can increase EF in patients with HFrEF, with average increases ranging from 4.6 to 8.6 EF units 2.
- However, the effect of beta-blockers on EF in patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is less clear, and more research is needed to determine the optimal treatment for these patients 3, 6.
Achieving an Ejection Fraction of 80%
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest that an ejection fraction of 80% is achievable with beta-blocker treatment alone.
- The studies provided focus on the improvement of EF in patients with HFrEF or HFpEF, but they do not provide information on achieving a specific EF value of 80% 3, 2, 4, 5, 6.
- It is possible that an EF of 80% may be achievable in some patients with normal or near-normal cardiac function, but this would depend on various factors such as the underlying cardiac condition, treatment, and individual patient characteristics.