Outpatient treatment of heart failure

Heart failure (HF) affects more than 2 million adults in the United States. This common, costly, and disabling disorder mainly affects the elderly, with prevalence rates up to 10% in patients older than 65 years. The management of HF is responsible for millions of outpatient visits per year, is the most common discharge diagnosis for Medicare beneficiaries, and accounts for more than 5% of total health care dollars spent.