title: Introduction.
authors.forename: Sripal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bangalore
authors.forename: Stuart D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology