title: Should we screen for asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction to prevent heart failure?
abstract: A programme to detect and treat asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction would seem to fulfil all five principles of screening. Indeed, such a programme would appear to be at least as firmly based as those already in existence for, for example, cervical and breast cancer. Further evaluation of the screening of high risk groups to detect asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction with the aim of giving treatment to prevent the development of heart failure is merited.
authors.affiliation: MRC CRI in Heart Failure, University of Glasgow, U.K.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McDonagh
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Davie
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*