Description
Heart failure is a condition in which the contractile activity of the heart is depressed resulting in impaired circulation, renal dysfunction, alterations in skeletal muscle, and decreased exercise capacity. Heart failure is a prevalent condition, affecting 0.5-2% of the population.1 The poor prognosis of with heart failure has been well documented in epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials1-3, and is also ref lected in a high
economic and social burden.4 Although advances in medical therapy have lead to substantial improvement in outcome, one year mortality
amongst NYHA Class IV patients remains as high as 40-50%.5,6
