METHODS

Design:

randomised controlled trial.

Allocation:

concealed.*

Blinding:

blinded (outcome adjudicators {and data analysts}†).*

Follow up period:

mean 16 months (range 7–27 mo).

Setting:

51 centres (public and private hospitals and ambulatory settings) in Argentina.

Patients:

1518 outpatients (mean age 65 y, 71% men) who were ⩾18 years of age; had stable HF diagnosed ⩾3 months previously, with no admissions in the past 2 months; and had optimal drug treatment that was not modified for ⩾2 months before the trial. Exclusion criteria included need for >1 medical visit per month; HF related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, significant valvular lesion, pericarditis or pericardial tamponade, primary pulmonary hypertension or cor pulmonale, …