title: [Treatment of heart failure: guidelines compared to clinical practice].
abstract: Last decade brought great development in the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). General use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) in patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction or with HF significantly reduced morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess how the specialists from Cardiology Department and Gastroenterology Department think that heart failure should be managed, how they implement their knowledge and if it is consistent with the recommendation of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and whether differences exists in practice between specialists. In the first phase the specialists, cardiologists and diabetologists, answered the questions about the management of different stages of HF. In second phase we analysed medical documentation of 345 patients aged between 38 and 98 years, hospitalised in Cardiology and Gastroenterology Departments from October 2000 to February 2002 by reason of coronary artery disease, hypertension and dilated cardiomyopathy. In the third phase we compared the knowledge of heart failure management from questionnaire and its implementation, the compliance with ESC recommendation and finally whether differences in clinical practice exist between cardiologist and diabetologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACE-I were prescribed in all NYHA classes of HF. In over 50% patients in II NYHA class to 94% in IV NYHA class in Cardiology Department. Differences between the Departments in prescribing of ACE-I were observed. Beta-blockers (BB) were used with the same frequency in all NYHA classes, more often in Cardiology Department. Frequency of the administration of digoxin, diuretics, aldosterone receptor blocker was increasing starting with II NYHA class. The highest compliance between declarations from questionnaire and clinical practice concerned the use of BB and ACE-I combination.
authors.affiliation: I Katedra i Klinika Kardiologii AM w Warszawie.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stawicki
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jasik
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roik
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kosior
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scisło
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kochanowski
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dembe
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krakowiecki
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karnafel
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opolski
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors