CHART: congestive cardiac failure in hospitals, an Australian review of treatment.

Despite strong evidence supporting the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACED, beta-blockers, and spironolactone in heart failure, evidence suggests these drugs are under-used and under-dosed. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of hospitalisation on heart failure pharmacotherapy in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). A retrospective study was conducted, based on 300 consecutive admissions with the medical record diagnosis of heart failure, in each of seven grade one teaching hospitals.