Inviting you to Gothenburg

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the Heart Failure Congress 2011, organised by the HeartFailure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology.
The Heart Failure Congress is an opportunity for everyone in the heart failure community to come together. Our objective is to provide a complete picture of heart failure, covering many fields of information, innovation and education. We will address the core topics and the associated technologies linked to heart failure in order to provide health care professionals with the knowledge and experience they require in their daily clinical practice.

The overall theme of this congress is co-morbidities because more and more patients with heart failure present with other conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, renal impairment, etc. There is no doubt that co-morbidities need to be optimally managed, as they deteriorate the natural course of heart failure, thus often constituting real challenges for health care professionals taking care of heart failure patients.

We will also bring you up to date on devices and technologies (ICD, CRT, LVADs), their management programmes and novel diagnostic modalities, to ensure we meet your expectations and provide adequate educational value to each and every participant. The sessions will address the topics in different formats, from an expert lecture in a main session to an interactive educational session with case presentations. Our faculty will also bring you a very practical and international perspective on the Heart Failure Guidelines to incorporate in your clinical decision process.

The Heart Failure congresses have always focussed on the original scientific contributions received and selected for presentation. The Oral Abstract sessions feature the best of the research presented and the three Award sessions will recognise emerging scientists within our community. The Poster Area is the ideal platform to meet colleagues and peers to discuss specific topics of research and interest.
This year, the Congress launches a new initiative to highlight contributions from Young Researchers. We invite all attendees to take the time to join our Faculty and Board members and meet young scientists to support their early contribution to the research in heart failure and related topics.
Also new this year, the HFA Forum on Level 1 is the place to interact with your association, discover our mission, objectives and initiatives, and how you can play a part.

Thank you for being with us in Gothenburg this week. Enjoy your time, learn something new, meet peers, colleagues and friends, and help us prepare an informative and rewarding programme by giving your feedback.

Welcome to Gothenburg, welcome to your congress!