The objective is to compile a clinical database on the medical management of patients hospitalized with acute HF, using information collected from acute care hospitals across the United States; To assist hospitals in evaluating and improving quality of care for patients with acute HF by tracking quality indicators and providing benchmark data reports; To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who are hospitalized with acute HF; To characterize the initial emergency department evaluation and subsequent inpatient management of patients hospitalized with acute HF; To identify patient characteristics and medical care practices associated with improved health outcomes in those hospitalized with acute HF; To characterize trends and changes over time in the management of acute HF; To offer surveillance of adherence to practice guidelines as these emerge for the inpatient management of acute HF.

N/A

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age greater than or equal to 18 years at the time of admission to the hospital. Received or is eligible to receive a principal hospital discharge diagnosis of HF
• Decompensated HF is present as determined clinically by the patient care team

Exclusion Criteria:

• HF is present as a co-morbid condition, but is not a principal focus of diagnosis or treatment during this hospitalization episode