A. Coronary Artery Disease
In developed countries coronary artery disease causing myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) is responsible for more than 40% of cases of heart failure. Left heart failure is most often due to extensive damage to the muscle of the left ventricle like the damage that occurs during one or more heart attacks (see the chapter Heart Attacks). Patients recover within a few days as the muscle is able to function well enough in the majority of those with the disease. In about 30 in every 100 patients with acute myocardial