[Management of chronic heart failure: clinical features and resource utilization among patients managed by the general practitioner. Pilot project in the province of Udine (Italy)].

Rationale: In the management of heart failure the general practitioner (GP) plays an important role. However, international studies proved that the GP differs in the management of these patients from the cardiologist. This pilot study aims at investigating if such differences persist in the Italian community.

Use of medical resources and quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure: a prospective survey in a large Italian community hospital.

Aims: To assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics, use of medical resources and quality of life in consecutive patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) hospitalized in a large community hospital during 3 months.

Methods And Results: The study group included 354 patients with CHF, admitted in the Departments of Internal Medicine (97%) and Cardiology. Median age was 78 years [72;85], 45% were males.

[Paroxysmal atrial arrhythmias in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy of the right ventricle with a familial character: the role of right atrial involvement].

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy presents a rather frequent familial occurrence. In the present study the cases of two brothers (25 and 30 years old, respectively) presenting with the peculiar finding of early involvement of right atrium, are described. Both subjects were investigated because of recurrent complex arrhythmias, including supraventricular (sustained atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia) and ventricular tachyarrhythmias (very frequent premature beats, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia).