Rationale The epidemiology of heart failure and patient management procedures may vary from one country to another. This study was designed to analyse the spectrum of patients hospitalized in France for heart failure. Patients and Methods A registry involving 120 departments (cardiology, general medicine and geriatrics) and 1058 patients. Results The patients' median age was 76 years, and the male/female ratio was 55/45. Echocardiography was performed in 77% of the cases: the left ventricular ejection fraction was Conclusion In France, patients hospitalized for heart failure tend to be old and are often women; about one in two have relatively preserved left ventricular systolic function. ACE inhibitor prescription seems to be more frequent than currently reported. This survey confirms the clear gap between the populations in clinical trials and those in routine clinical practice.