The Benefit of Implementing a Heart Failure Disease Management Program

Abstract
CONGESTIVE heart failure (CHF) has a tremendous impact on the US health care system. Presently, CHF affects an estimated 5 million Americans and has an overall mortality rate of 50%.1,2 From 1979 to 1997, the numbers of deaths and hospitalizations attributed to CHF have increased significantly.3 As more patients survive myocardial infarctions, and as treatments continue to improve for CHF, the number of patients who have CHF is expected to grow.4