Heart failure (HF) is an important public health problem in the Western world, as it is associated with high morbidity, high mortal- ity, and considerable healthcare costs.1 In Italy, 􏰀 200 000 hospita- lizations per year (88% among people aged .65 years) are registered with the main diagnosis of HF, and the trend is increas- ing.2 In the general population, HF prevalence increases with age and is high in the elderly.3 – 6 A preclinical phase of HF (stage B

of HF), characterized by changes in cardiac geometry or asymp- tomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD), has been identified as associated with a poor prognosis.5,7,8 The available evidence indicates that early pharmacological strategies may prevent HF in the preclinical stage of HF,9 and guidelines suggest a preventive ap- proach.7,8 The prevalence of ALVD varies widely in the general population, ranging from 1% to 34%,4,5,10 – 13 depending on the characteristics of the study population, the definition of LVD and symptoms, and the method used to detect LVD.13 In general,