Authors

• Davor Miličić — ORCID: 0000-0001-9101-1570

DOI

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## Dear colleagues, You are holding the new Congress edition of our journal Cardiologia Croatica, which consists of selected abstracts that are an important part of the 12 th Croatian Cardiac Society’s Congress Programme, taking place in Zagreb on November 29 to December 2, 2018. Our Congress represents the biggest national professional and scientific event in Croatian medicine, which is held biannually, as we consider a two years span an appropriate period for achieving and presenting a measurable amount of progress in national cardiology. There is no doubt that we have achieved tremendous progress over the last years, which includes all fields of cardiology. Despite the fact that cardiovascular mortality still holds the leading place in overall mortality, in the last decade it has decreased in Croatia by about ten percent. That can be partially explained by progress in Croatian clinical cardiology, but is surely also due to better and wider cardiovascular prevention, which was always significantly supported by our Cardiac Society and our National Heart Foundation – the Croatian Heart House. There is a plethora of our activities can bear witness that statement. Abstracts selected for our 12 th National Cardiology Congress underwent an unbiased evaluation by our Organization Committee. The abstracts were graded by each Committee member from 1 to 10. Abstracts receiving low grades were rejected, while abstracts scoring above 7.5 were considered for potential oral presentations. From these highly graded abstract, we have chosen the most original themes and topics for oral presentation that seemed the most attractive for the Programme. The selected abstracts represent a wide spectrum of cardiac topics, from interesting case presentations to original scientific contributions. Beside abstracts published in this issue of Cardiologia Croatica, the Congress consists of invited state-of-the-art lectures, sponsored satellite symposia and sponsored lectures. Invited lectures will be held by leading Croatian and foreign cardiologists and are aimed at representing a current overview of all the relevant cardiac fields, reflecting the current progress of cardiology subspecialties. Satellite symposia and sponsored lectures will not be commercially oriented, but as much as possible scientifically unbiased with a goal of presenting the newest breakthroughs in cardiovascular therapies with both drugs and devices. Last but not least, we are extremely honored and pleased that the Congress is being held under the patronage of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, which is our leading institution representing the best of Croatian science, arts, and cultural heritage. The Academy has recognized our Cardiac Society as a promoter of excellence and international recognition of Croatian medicine. Finally, I would also like to express my gratitude to all who enthusiastically contributed to the Congress organization content, including this Book of Abstracts published in our journal Cardiologia Croatica. Beside its scientific and professional aspect, the Congress should also promote our mutual cooperation, networking and support, as well as our critical approach regarding our efforts to become even better and more recognizable on the international map of contemporary cardiology. With my kindest regards and best wishes, Sincerely yours,