Cardiac Diastole was long ignored as all the attention was focused on cardiac systole. Diastole is an active process comprising of isovolumic relaxation, early diastolic filling, diastasis in mid-diastole and atrial contraction resulting in last minute ventricular filling before systole starts. It is a period of rest and relaxation for the heart.

Prevalence of diastolic dysfunction can range from mild to moderate to severe progressing to diastolic heart failure. Incidence varies from 33-50% above age of 50 years with high 5 year mortality of above 50%

There are various echo parameters available to assess diastolic function and these include size of LA, LV isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), Mitral deceleration time (DT), Mitral flow velocity (E), E at A velocity. , Peak mitral A velocity and A wave duration, study of pulmonary venous flow pattern and color flow mitral propagation velocity and derived PCWP.

These indices give a fair assessment of type and degree of diastolic dysfunction to help plan appropriate medical therapy.