The Year in Cardiology 2012: heart failure.

In 2012 there were a number of important advances within the clinical arena of heart failure. Recent new evidence was dissected, analysed, synthesized, and incorporated into the new European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Guideline 2012 which will facilitate the translation of clinical research in heart failure into improved patient care. In addition there were new therapeutic treatment trials presented at two of the major scientific meetings, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich and most recently, the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Los Angeles. Interestingly, these focused on two areas of great unmet need in heart failure therapy, acute heart failure (AHF) and heart failure with preserved left ventricular function (HFPEF). This article summarizes the main heart failure highlights of the new guideline and those two meetings.