Heart failure: time for prevention

Heart failure affects more than 60 million people worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of hospitalization and premature mortality. A new expert statement published in the European Heart Journal shifts the focus from treating advanced disease to preventing it before symptoms appear. The statement—the first comprehensive document devoted exclusively to heart failure prevention—summarizes current evidence on modifiable risk factors, early identification of high-risk individuals, and strategies that can reduce disease burden throughout life. Experts from Wroclaw Medical University contributed to the statement, emphasizing the central role of primary care, cardiovascular risk assessment, and public health education. According to the authors, preventing hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease through lifestyle interventions and timely treatment may substantially reduce future heart failure cases. The publication argues that the greatest opportunity to prevent heart failure occurs long before patients develop symptoms, highlighting prevention as one of the most effective strategies for addressing the growing global burden of cardiovascular disease.