Marschall A, del Castillo Carnevali H, Pascual CF, et al. - Among supposedly stable heart failure (HF) patients in NYHA I, this investigation was run to determine the incidence of short-term clinical progression. Researchers also assessed the predictive value of broadly available electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters for short-term disease progression, in this retrospective analysis. Participants included 153 consecutive patients suffering from HF with reduced and mid-range ejection fraction (HFrEF: LVEF<40%; HFmrEF: LVEF 40-49%) in NYHA I with no history of decompensation within the previous 6 months. The estimated cumulative incidence of HF progression was 17.8%. Significant predictors of HF progression included QRS duration ≥120ms and mitral regurgitation grade >1. Short-term follow-up revealed clinical progression in almost one in five supposedly stable HF patients in NYHA I. Experts suggest the likely usefulness of simple electrocardiographic and echocardiographic predictors for not only risk stratification but also for improving individual HF patient management and results.