[Management of heart failure by general practitioners in France. Results of the study IMPROVEMENT of heart failure (IMPROVEMENT-HF)].

The IMPROVEMENT-HF programme (Improvement PROgramme on evaluation and management of Heart Failure) aimed to improve the management of patients with heart failure by general practitioners in France and in Europe. This programme had two aspects: diagnostic and therapeutic. In France, the programme had been carried out by the collaboration of 27 cardiologists and 217 general practitioners who collected the charts of 1200 patients. Among French doctors, the level of knowledge of the NYHA classification and the concept of diastolic dysfunction is poor. A majority of them request EKG and echocardiography for patients with heart failure. As expected, ACE-inhibitors are frequently prescribed, however, dosages remain low. It appears that the collaboration with cardiologists is close. In this study, some differences appear on the management between France and other countries.