Heart failure (HF), defined as the inability of the heart to meet the metabolic requirements of peripheral tissues, or to do so only at the expense of elevated ventricular filling pressures, represents one of the most clinically and socioeconomically burdensome chronic conditions [1]. It affects approximately 1–3 % of the Western population, with prevalence and incidence increasing exponentially with advancing age [1]. Despite major therapeutic advances, prognosis remains poor, with >30 % of patients dying within one year after their first hospitalization for HF [1].
