^aDepartment of Cardiology, Cardiff University, Wales Heart Research Institute, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK

^bClinica Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Prevenzione, Università Milano-Bicocca, Ospedale San Gerardo, Monza, Milan, Italy

Correspondence to Giuseppe Mancia, Clinica Medica – University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Via Pergolesi, 33, 20900 Monza (MB), Italy.Tel: +39 039 233 33578; fax: +39 039 322274; e-mail: [email protected]