Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: In order to have been included to participate in the index trial, a subject must have met all of the following criteria: * age \>=18 years with symptoms of new-onset or worsening heart failure; * objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction documented either by left ventricular ejection fraction \<=40% or plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) \>400 pg/mL and/or NT-proBNP \>2000 pg/mL; * treatment with either oral or intravenous furosemide \>=40 mg/day or equivalent at the time of inclusion; not previously treated with evidence-based therapies (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers and beta-blockers) or receiving \<=50% of target doses of these drugs at the time of inclusion; anticipated initiation or up-titration of ACE inhibitors or ARBs and/or beta-blockers by the treating physician. For the validation cohort, patients had to fulfil the following inclusion criteria: * age \>=18 years; * diagnosis of heart failure with a previous documented admission requiring diuretic treatment; * treatment with furosemide \>=20 mg/day or equivalent; * not previously treated or receiving \<=50% of target doses of ACE inhibitors or ARBs and/or beta-blockers; * anticipated initiation or up-titration of ACE inhibitors or ARBs and/or beta-blockers. In both trials, patients could be enrolled as inpatients or from outpatient clinics. Exclusion Criteria: A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: \- known diagnosis of septicaemia, known diagnosis of acute myocarditis or hypertrophic obstructive, restrictive, or constrictive cardiomyopathy, heart transplant recipient or admitted for cardiac transplantation or left ventricular assist device surgery, anticipated need for surgery or any cardiovascular intervention, except implantable cardioverter defibrillator and-or cardiac resynchronization therapy, within 4 weeks, current known inability to follow instructions or comply with follow-up procedures, and treatment with medications or devices not approved in Europe. Patients with concomitant pulmonary disease, even if severe, valvular disease, acute coronary syndrome or stroke, could be included when the primary diagnosis for admission to hospital or outpatient clinic visit was heart failure, rather than the concomitant condition