Early detection of myocardial dysfunction and heart failure

To date, treatment strategies for heart failure have focused on the symptomatic stage of disease, often after irreversible remodeling and functional impairment have occurred. Early identification of cardiac dysfunction would allow implementation of early intervention strategies to delay the progression or to prevent the onset of heart failure altogether. This Review highlights the utility of a staged approach for patients with predisposing risk factors, which uses serological biomarkers followed by noninvasive imaging techniques.