Heart failure (HF) has been singled out as an emerging epidemic, which could be the result of increased incidence and/or improved survival after myocardial infarction leading to increased prevalence. HF is a major problem for health care systems around the world, in terms of the impact on the patient’s daily life, but also in terms of costs due to high rates of hospitalization, readmission, and outpatient visits.

While treatment advances have improved the prognosis for many HF patients over recent decades, hospitalization is one of the strongest predictors of increased mortality.

It is essential that health care professionals join the efforts to fight this growing epidemic.