This important issue of Medical Clinics provides essential updates in heart failure.? The following topics are covered: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and general approach for heart failure; symptoms, signs, diagnostic studies, and prognostic significance of systolic versus diastolic heart failure; the appropriate use of biomarkers; oral versus intravenous diuretic therapy; guideline-based therapy including RAAS blockade, beta-blockade, and aldosterone antagonist, appropriate use of AICD and biventricular pacing; role of ventricular assist device; pathophysiological consideration and management approaches in acute decompensated heart failure; pathophysiology and current approaches to cardiorenal syndrome; heart failure with other comorbidities including diabetes, obesity, anemia, and cancer; heart failure and atrial fibrillation; and the role of disease management strategies in heart failure.

With the numerous advances that have been made in treatment of heart disease over the past 20 years, physicians are now emphasizing more than ever the prevention of heart disease. This issue provides cardiologists with practical state-of-the-art information on prevention that can be be easily applied to their patients. Topics covered include diabetes, lipid-lowering therapy, RAAS blockade, emerging therapies for atherosclerosis prevention, and heart disease in women.