Calif. Background .
Heart failure has a large medical and economic impact on the elderly.
Past studies have shown that high-intensity multidisciplinary interventions at academic medical centers can reduce future hospitalizations. Our pilot study examined the effects of a low-intensity monitoring program on hospitalization and cost of care for patients with heart failure treated by community physicians. Comparisons of medical claims were made between the patients who received the intervention and a control group of 86 patients matched to the intervention group on medical claims during the preceding year. Similar differences were observed for hospitalizations and total hospital days. The program's effectiveness was unrelated to age, sex, or type of left ventricular function.