Inclusion Criteria:

• * Discharged from an inpatient hospitalization within the past month, AND
• * had a clinical diagnosis of HF at admission to or discharge from the hospital, AND
• * met the European Society of HF diagnostic criteria during the hospital stay.

Exclusion Criteria:

• * patient's physician advises against participation in the study, OR
• * patient refuses to participate, OR
• * patient's legally authorized representative refuses to allow patient to participate, OR
• * isolated right HF (cor pulmonale), OR
• * reversible HF due to valve disease with impending surgical correction.