[Disease management programs in heart failure. Findings of the DIAL study]

Despite significant advances in the treatment of heart failure, patients' quality of life and prognosis are still poor. Hospitalization for decompensated heart failure or due to other causes is frequent in these patients and places a heavy financial burden on the healthcare system. The shortcomings of ambulatory treatment have led to the implementation of disease management programs whose aim is to optimize quality of care and treatment adherence, thereby improving clinical outcome and prognosis, and reducing healthcare costs. The multicenter randomized DIAL study compared treatment administered by means of a centralized telephone intervention by trained nurses with usual care in 1518 ambulatory patients with stable chronic heart failure who were receiving appropriate medical treatment and were being followed up by a cardiologist. This intervention proved effective in increasing treatment adherence, in reducing hospitalization due to heart failure or any cause, in improving quality of life, and in reducing costs. The findings of the DIAL study add to existing evidence that disease management programs have clinical benefits in patients with chronic heart failure and support their use as part of the strategy for ambulatory care in this population.