The second treatment principle is to minimize the common risk factors for heart failure, such as alleviating hypertension [4]. Coronary revascularization [coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)] for ischaemic heart disease preserves cardiac function [5] and improves outcome in combination with guideline-recommended medical therapy with excellent long-term overall mortality rates (all-cause mortality at 10 years with CABG versus optimal medical treatment: 58.9% vs 66.1%, hazard ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.73–0.97; P = 0.02; NNT = 14), as was recently demonstrated from STICH (Surgical Treatment for Ischaemic Heart Failure) and STICHES (Surgical Treatment for Ischaemic Heart Failure Extension Study) investigators [19]. The latest coronary revascularization guideline favours CABG as the preferable choice of revascularization in multivessel disease and reduced ventricular function, whereas comparable data for percutaneous coronary intervention are missing [20].