[Choosing wisely: the Top 5 list of the Italian Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO)].

In recent years, a progressive increase in the number of medical diagnostic and interventional procedures has been observed, namely in cardiology. A significant proportion of them appear inappropriate, i.e.

The etiology-filling pattern-pulmonary artery pressure score: a simple tool for risk stratification of patients with systolic heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The detection of patients at high risk for death is a major challenge in HF management. The authors compared the prognostic value of 23 clinical Doppler echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise indexes in a stable, moderately symptomatic, systolic HF outpatient population receiving optimal medical therapy.

Trends in hospitalization for heart failure in Italy 2001-2003.

Background: Heart failure is one of the main causes of hospitalization in Italy. In some industrialized countries since the second half of 1990s a halt in the grow rate of hospitalization for this pathology has been observed, and in some cases a reversal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend of hospitalization for heart failure in Italy in the years 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Clinical, resting echo and dipyridamole stress echocardiography findings for the screening of renal transplant candidates.

Background: Preoperative screening for coronary artery disease is recommended in high-risk renal transplant candidates. Aim of this study was to prospectively assess the value of a comprehensive risk stratification strategy including clinical, resting echo, and dipyridamole stress echo findings before renal transplantation.

Methods: The study group consisted of 71 renal transplant candidates (47 men; age 54+/-11 years) fulfilling one or more of the following high-risk clinical criteria: history of coronary artery disease, wall motion abnormalities at resting echo, dialysis dependency lasting >5 years, presence of 2 or more risk factors.

[Physical training in the elderly with heart failure].

Limited functional capacity has an important negative predictive value both in normal subjects and in patients with heart disease. In heart failure patients the improvement in physical capacity produces an increase in survival and a reduction in morbidity and hospital admission. The main cause of physical capacity reduction in heart failure elderly patients is represented by structural modifications of peripheral muscles and reduced vasodilating capacity of perimuscular vessels.

Heart rate response to graded exercise correlates with aerobic and ventilatory capacity in patients with heart failure.

Background: Autonomic dysfunction and reduced exercise tolerance are typical features of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Baro-chemoreflex balance and organ response may have a common role in conditioning exercise tolerance, ventilation, and chronotropic competence in patients with CHF.

Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that there is a relationship between functional capacity and chronotropic competence to exercise in CHF.

[Significance of exercise capacity in cardiology].

Exercise capacity is reduced in many patients with cardiovascular disease. In post-acute myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease and heart failure patients, exercise capacity has a strong independent prognostic impact. Even in subjects without history of heart disease, the lower the cardiorespiratory fitness the higher is the risk for cardiovascular events and mortality.