[Heart failure: epidemiology, costs and healthcare programs in Italy].

Epidemiological data show an even greater prevalence of heart failure in the general population, in particular in elderly people, both in Italy and the other European countries. Patients admitted to hospital because of heart failure are commonly complex patients with relevant comorbidities and frequent readmissions. Hospital care accounts largely for the costs due to heart failure, whereas expenditure for therapies (drugs, devices and surgery) is less significant; non-medical and social costs represent also a relevant part of total costs.

Utility of implantable loop recorder (Reveal Plus) in the diagnosis of unexplained syncope.

Aims: In about 30% of patients with syncope, the responsible mechanisms remain unrecognised. Nevertheless, the possibility of an arrhythmic aetiology remains, however, difficult to rule out.

Methods: We therefore monitored with an implantable loop recorder (ILR, Reveal Plus, Medtronic) 34 subjects (60+/-15 years) with at least two unexplained syncopal episodes and negative neurological and cardiovascular work-up.