Foreword

Article Outline

• Copyright

Since 1978, the prevalence, incidence, and number of deaths from heart failure has increased markedly in the US and developed countries of the world. Acute decompensated heart failure is the most common cause of hospitalization in patients over 65 years of age.

In this issue, Dr. Dec, a highly respected, superb academic clinical cardiologist, has presented an excellent review of the epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical presentations, pathophysiology, prognosis, and management of this syndrome. It has 124 references.

The Editorial Board and I grateful to Dr. William Dec, Chief of Cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, for this outstanding contribution. Dr. Jagat Narula^⁎ and his colleague Dr. Roger Mills,^⁎⁎ of the University of California, Irvine, have provided very important comments and we are obliged to both.

• ⁎ Jagat Narula, MD, is Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Cardiology, Associate Dean, University of California Irvine.
• ⁎⁎ Roger Mills, MD, is currently Vice-President of Medical Affairs at Scios, which makes Neseritide for clinical use.