Cardiovascular disease (CVD) covers a broad range of health conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels.1 The most common CVDs include coronary heart disease (CHD), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke and heart failure (HF).2 This commentary will focus on the use of saliva to detect HF. HF is a complex pathophysiological syndrome that arises due to the inability of the heart to take in and/or supply sufficient blood to the body. The clinical manifestation of HF could arise due to myocardial disease, most commonly coronary artery disease, hypertension and cardiomyopathy. Even though the aetiology of HF is highly variable, HF syndrome represents the interplay between the cardiac, renal and vascular systems.