Search for: [Abstract = "Aim\: The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic practices used in HF patients followed in outpatient clinics in Poland. Methods and results\: The survey was performed in Poland between Apr and Dec 2005 in randomly chosen primary care \(N= 400\) and cardiologic \(N= 396\) outpatient clinics. The questionnaire aimed to identify HF patients of New York Heart Association \(NYHA\) class from I to IV. In total 3980 HF patients were included. Questionnaire\-based assessment of diagnostic procedures and pharmacotherapy was performed by trained nurses. Mean patient age was 67 ± 11.8 years, 58% were male. HF was diagnosed using echocardiography more often by specialists, in male, younger patients, in urban areas. The patients were treated with ACEI \(85%\), \-blockers \(77%\), diuretics \(75%\), spironolacton \(50%\), digitalis \(30%\), AT\-1 receptor blockers \(3%\). There were differences in drug prescription practices according to patient age and gender, community size, NYHA class and concomitant diseases. Specialists’ patients were more commonly treated with ACEI, \-blockers and spironolactone compared to primary care units, and were more often subjected to invasive cardiovascular procedures. Conclusions\: Cardiologists seemed to provide higher quality care of HF patients, more adherent to guidelines compared to primary care doctors in Poland. Although improvement in HF management wo"]

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