[Treatment of heart failure. A questionnaire among Norwegian hospital physicians]

A questionnaire on the treatment of congestive heart failure was distributed to physicians in the medical departments of five hospitals in the Oslo area. The 117 (81%) respondents selected first, second and third line therapy in the treatment of mild, moderate and severe heart failure. Diuretics and restrictions on sodium/water dominated as first line therapy for mild heart failure; less than 5% suggested ACE-inhibitors or digitalis. Some differences in priorities were revealed for moderate and severe heart failure. The majority again suggested diuretics and restrictions on sodium/water, but 20% preferred ACE-inhibitors, which were also stated as second or third line therapy by 60% of the physicians. Less than 50% chose digitalis or nitrates as one of the three first therapies.