Editorial What is the Current Scenario for Heart Failure in Brazil?

Brazil- at this point in time with a population of 169,799,170, 50.77 % females, mostly concentrated in urban areas (81.24%)- reported life expectancy increase at birth: from 64 years in 1985 up to 69 years in 20001. The Ministry of Health (MS) holds the responsibility of over 75 % of hospital admissions in the country, through its Unified Health System (SUS). SUS is the only data base for diseases characteristics in the country. The remaining 25 % is assisted by health plans, which do not make records available to the general public. In the year 2002, 11,714,184 hospital admissions were done by SUS/MS. The top ten causes as identifie