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Background and aim: The European Society of Cardiology initiated the EuroHeart Failure Survey to obtain more data about the quality of care in patients hospitalised with suspected heart failure (HF). The Czech Republic was 1 of the 24 European Society countries included in the survey. The aim of this report is to extend the original follow-up period of 12 weeks out to 4 years to assess mortality. Methods: All admitted patients were screened according to the EuroHeart Survey Protocol, over a 6-week period in six hospitals in Pilsen, Prague and Brno in the year 2000. Annual mortality and cause of death were obtained from the Prague Institute for Health Statistical Information (UZIS Praha). Results: A total of 2365 patients were screened and about 25% of all admitted patients fulfilled the criteria for HF. About 14% of patients died between admission and the 12-week follow-up, 36% of male and 42% of female patients died during the 4-year follow-up (2000 -2003). Cardiovascular diseases were the main causes of death (92%). Deceased patients were significantly older, had lower haemoglobin and total plasma cholesterol level, and had renal insufficiency and higher levels of big endothelin and BNP than the survivors. Mortality risk was increased independently by positive history of previous myocardial infarction OR = 2.39 (1.59 -3.59), by age OR = 1.03 (1.01 -1.05) and by plasma creatinine level OR = 1.04 (1.01 -1.07). Treatment with diuretics and digoxin was associated with a higher risk of death; by contrast, a protective effect of beta-blockers and statins was found in these HF patients. Conclusion: Patients with HF were older and had a poor prognosis; approximately one third of the patients will die within 3 years.

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Background. Unoperated severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) leads to the right ventricle (RV) failure. We wanted to determine if there was near-term postoperative progression of noncorrected mild to moderate functional TR in patients who underwent mitral valve surgery for chronic significant mitral regurgitation (MR) and if RV size and function were affected. Methods and Results. We compared two groups of patients retrospectively. In the first group (TVA+, n = 45), tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TVA) had been performed in conjunction with either mitral valve replacement (MVR) or mitral valve repair (MVP). The second group (TVA−, n = 22) underwent MVP or MVR without TVA. TVA+ group revealed a significant decrease in TR and right ventricle diameter. In the TVA− group, 7 patients (32%) showed a significant progression, by one or more grades, of noncorrected TR together with dilatation and decreased ejection fraction of the right ventricle. Conclusions. Tricuspid annuloplasty performed concurrently with MVP or MVR can prevent subsequent progression of tricuspid regurgitation along with right ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction in the near-term postoperative period.