[Cardiovascular diseases at the turn of the millenium].

The coronary disease of the heart (CDH) will be the most frequent cause of mortality and inability to work in the 21st century not only in industrially advanced countries but also in the developing countries. This unfavourable, assumedly paradoxical tendency persevering despite the significant progress in diagnosis and therapy is caused by two circumstances: ageing of population (prolonged mean life expectancy) and the increase in the number of individuals afflicted with (CDH) and living up to high age. In result of this development, the rapid increase in the prevalence of heart failure, especially in the aged, becomes the main cause of mortality, morbidity and hospitalisation.