A national survey of heart failure in French hospitals

Rationale The epidemiology of heart failure and patient management procedur es may vary from one country to another. This study was designed to analyse the spectrum of patients hospitalized in France for heart failure. Patients and Methods A registry involving 120 departments (cardiology, gene ral medicine and geriatrics) and 1058 patients. Results The patients' median age was 76 years, and the male/female ratio wa s 55/45. Echocardiography was performed in 77% of the cases: the left ventr icular ejection fraction was <30% in 22%, between 30 and 40% in 25% and gre ater than 40% in 53%. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were p rescribed to, respectively, 78% and 63% of patients with ejection fractions above and below 40%. Conclusion In France, patients hospitalized for heart failure tend to be ol d and are often women; about one in two have relatively preserved left vent ricular systolic function. ACE inhibitor prescription seems to be more freq uent than currently reported. This survey confirms the clear gap between th e populations in clinical trials and those in routine clinical practice. (C ) 2000 The European Society of Cardiology.