Heart failure (HF) is a significant and increasing global public health problem. In the United States, hospital admissions for a principal diagnosis of HF increased from 399 000 in 1979 to 1 093 000 in 2003. 1 The diagnosis of HF continues to be associated with poor quality of life, high morbidity, and high mortality despite contemporary HF management. 2,3 Once admitted to hospital, patients experience high rates of subsequent HF hospitalization and mortality
