Purpose

This is a randomized study evaluating the effect of routinely collecting a standardized questionnaire of heart failure health status during heart failure clinic visits. Participants will be randomized to early or delayed implementation of a validated health-related quality of life survey (the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire). Participants randomized to early implementation will be given this 12-question survey at each heart failure clinic visit at the beginning of the study; their heart failure clinician will have access to survey results but will continue to manage participants based on standard treatment practice. Patients randomized to delayed implementation will start receiving the survey at each clinic visit one year later. By comparing the health status and treatment rates between early and delayed implementation, this study will determine the impact of standardized health status assessment on patient outcomes and clinician decision-making.