Patients hospitalised due to heart failure in New
York Heart Association classification (NYHA class)
II–IV were asked to participate in the study during
the predetermined recruitment period of 2.5 years,
from June 1997 to December 1999. Inclusion
criteria were diagnosed heart failure, either by
echocardiography, radiographic evidence of pulmonary
congestion or typical symptoms and signs of
heart failure. Exclusion criteria were severe
chronic pulmonary disease, dementia or other
psychiatric illness, short anticipated survival, discharge
to a geriatric clinic or home care or already
receiving follow-up at the nurse-led heart failure
clinic. The patients received both written and
verbal information about the study before they
agreed to participate. The included patients were
randomised to either the intervention group with
follow-up at a hospital-based, nurse-led heart failure
clinic or to the control group who received
usual care. The randomisation was blinded with
the use of a computer-generated list of random
numbers and sealed envelopes.