[The best of 2001. Heart failure]

This year the prevalence, prognosis and the cost of left ventricular function have been clarified. The significance of B natiuretic peptide has been confirmed. The influence of race on the sensitivity to different therapeutic measures has been brought up. Tobacco and diabetes appear as risk factors in cardiac insufficiency. The importance of parietal thickening regarding hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is beginning to be debated, and the risk associated with a new pregnancy in women affected by dilated cardiomyopathy of the peripartum period has been demonstrated. The significance of betablockers is confirmed, although that of angiotensin II receptor antagonists remains a source of questions, despite several advances. Endothelin receptor antagonists present divergent results. Ventricular resynchronisation advances, but its beneficial role regarding the reduction of morbidity and mortality remains to be proved.