Which condition is considered a common cause of systolic heart failure?

Systolic heart failure, also known as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, primarily results from the heart's inability to pump blood effectively due to a compromised myocardial contractility. Ischemic heart disease is identified as a common cause of systolic heart failure because it often leads to the damage of heart muscle, most frequently as a result of coronary artery disease. When the heart's blood supply is reduced or blocked, the heart muscle can become weak or scarred, diminishing its ability to contract and thus leading to heart failure.

This connection to ischemic heart disease emphasizes the importance of managing risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, which can contribute to the progression of coronary artery disease and subsequent heart failure. While hypertension, valvular heart disease, and cardiac tamponade can also affect heart function, they are not as directly related to the impaired contractility that characterizes systolic heart failure as ischemic heart disease.