· INTRODUCTION. Heart failure is an unpredictable, progressive, and incurable condition. Around 1 million UK citizens1 and 5 million US citizens2 are estimated to be living with heart failure: 1% of the general population and 15% of those aged over 80 years. 3, 4 Heart failure is a leading cause of hospital admissions, 2, 4, 5 and a substantial drain on healthcare ….