There are several original research papers of interest in this issue of Heart, with topics ranging from cardiac risk factors and prevention, to cardiomyopathies, to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Only a few articles are highlighted here so readers should consult the table of contents for a full listing.

The presence of myocardial fibrosis, as demonstrated by late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is helpful in making the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and it has been suggested that the extent of myocardial fibrosis might correlate with prognosis. In a prospective cohort study of 711 adults with HCM who underwent MRI imaging, sudden cardiac death occurred in 3.1% at a median followup of 3.5 years (see page 1851). Although the extent of myocardial fibrosis was a univariate predictor of sudden cardiac death, the only predictor on multivariable analysis was left ventricular ejection fraction Figure 1.

This study is …