Cardiac insufficiency: An increasing medical challenge for the 21st century

Heart failure is of increasing clinical and economic importance. Myocardial hypertrophy as well as genetic conditions represent risk factors for the development of cardiac insufficiency. New data on epidemiology and prognosis of heart failure patients as well as different aspects on molecular pathogens are presented along with latest research results. In the future, innovative molecular therapy approaches will be integrated into classical treatment of heart failure in order to provide patient-tailored care.