New onset heart failure--Clinical characteristics and short-term mortality. A RICA (Spanish registry of acute heart failure) study.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a growing global epidemic. The main study aims is to evaluate the differences between new-onset and chronic-decompensated HF patients. Secondary objectives related only to new-onset HF patients include the role of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and mid-term mortality related risk factors

Methods: We analyzed 2190 patients hospitalized for acute HF.

[Efficacy of a protocol for the diagnosis and management of syncope in an unselected population].

Background And Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a protocol based on European guidelines for the management and diagnosis of syncope applied by a multidisciplinary team in unselected patients.

Patients And Methods: 402 unselected patients were followed prospectively in a second-level country hospital, between November 2003 and November 2008 with a protocol based on European Guidelines.

Result: Syncope was diagnosed in 83.