Middle English (Scots) carne, from Scottish Gaelic carn; akin to Old Irish & Welsh carn cairn
Ejection fraction is commonly measured by an echocardiogram and serves as a general measure of a person's cardiac function. Ejection fraction is typically low in patients with the systolic form of congestive heart failure.
The ejection fraction may decrease if: 1  A heart attack has damaged the heart muscle such that it cannot forcefully contract. 2  The valves of the heart are not working properly. 3  Blood pressure has been uncontrolled for a long period of time.  Weakness of the heart muscle, such as dilated cardiomyopathy.