Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

Patients with HF defined by Framingham diagnostic criteria

Stage C or D of the ACCF/AHA classification

Full capacity to decide

Signing of informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Cognitive impairment, measured by Mini-Mental Status Examination (< 27)

Presence of another disease other than HF that may severely affect the quality of life: stroke with significant residual deficit, end-stage renal failure, Child C cirrhosis, extreme obesity, haemoglobin < 8 g/dl, advanced peripheral artery disease (stage III–IV), severe thyroid or adrenal disease, neoplastic with estimated survival of less than 2 years

Patients who do not sign the informed consent