Patent attributes
An implantable medical apparatus for detecting diastolic heart failure, DHF, has a DHF determining device for determining at least one blood pressure parameter for detecting a DHF state of the heart of a patient. The DHF determining device has a pressure measuring unit for measuring the absolute value of left atrial pressure during the diastasis phase just before atrial contraction, or the absolute value of the pressure in the pulmonary vein when the pulmonary valve is closed, for a predetermined workload situation and a rest situation of the patient. A comparator compares the difference between left atrial pressure or pulmonary vein pressure, in the workload and rest situations, with a predetermined pressure difference reference value. A pacemaker includes such an apparatus and a control unit that optimizes pacing therapy depending on the result of the comparisons with the reference values. In a corresponding method of detecting diastolic heart failure, DHF at least one blood pressure parameter for detecting a DHF state of the heart of a patient is determined. The absolute value of left atrial pressure is measured during the diastasis phase just before atrial contraction, or the absolute value of the pressure in the pulmonary vein when the pulmonary valve is closed, for a predetermined workload situation and a rest situation of the patient. The difference between left atrial pressure or pulmonary vein pressure in said workload and rest situations is compared with a predetermined pressure difference reference value.