ABSTRACT
Heart failure (HF) is defi ned as an abnormality of cardiac structure or function impairing oxygen delivery from the heart at a rate proportionate to the requirements of metabolizing tissues. The prevalence of HF in the western world is calculated at 1-2 percent; in the population over 70 years old, the prevalence is rising to 10 percent. Hence, it is estimated that 10-15 million Europeans suffer from HF (Mosterd and Hoes 2007). Despite new treatments, exacerbations of HF and readmission to hospital are common and the overall prognosis remains poor, equivalent or even worse than some malignant neoplasm, posing signifi cant costs to healthcare systems (Levy et al. 2002).
