Tricuspid annular velocity measurement. Simple and accurate solution for a delicate problem?

heart disease should be an important issue for both sexes. Recent studies in women have shown that physical activity, cessation of smoking, changes in diet and lifestyle are effective in reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease. It is uncertain whether hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women plays a role in primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Secondly, the poorer prognosis in younger women, especially with diabetes, is a major concern for clinical practice as well as scientific research. Among patients with acute cardiac ischaemia, women under the age of 55 years are at highest risk for not being hospitalized. Diabetic patients after myocardial infarction are at particularly high risk of dying, but clearly benefit from treatment with thrombolytics, beta-blockers and antiplatelets. Effort should be made to improve diagnosis and therapy in this subgroup of patients. C. STO} LLBERGER 2nd Medical Department, Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria