Sex differences in systolic heart failure in the elderly: the prognostic importance of left ventricular mass in women.

Hypothesis: We investigated the hypothesis that there are prognostic differences in the importance of left ventricular (LV) mass and function between male and female patients hospitalized with heart failure.

Methods: Patients > or =60 years old hospitalized with New York Heart Association class II-IV heart failure and LV systolic dysfunction were prospectively followed for > or =18 months. At study start, a physical examination and echocardiography were performed, and blood chemistry samples were obtained.