ARBs now included in heart failure performance measures

Nearly five million Americans have heart failure (HF), and its incidence is rising dramatically among the elderly. Approximately 80%of patients hospitalized with HF are over the age of 65 years. Heart failure is the most prevalent Medicare diagnosis-related group (DRG), and more Medicare dollars are spent for its diagnosis and treatment than for any other medical condition. Accordingly, tremendous efforts are being initiated to identify and treat the factors that predict recurrent hospitalization.