Physician management of patients with heart failure and normal versus decreased left ventricular systolic function

A questionnaire was administered to a random sample of family practitioners, internists, cardiologists, and geriatricians to examine the current management of heart failure patients with preserved versus reduced left ventricular systolic function. In patients with preserved systolic function, electrocardiogram at rest, chest x-ray, echocardiography, digitalis, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and restriction of dietary sodium and physical activity are used less often, whereas calcium channel blockers and beta blockers are given more often than to patients with reduced systolic function.