Resource use data by patient report or hospital records: do they agree?
Using questionnaires in this study produced data on a greater number of patients compared with examination of hospital records. However, the two data sources did differ in the quantity of physiotherapy used and this should be taken into account in any analysis.
Endogenous atrial natriuretic factor appears to be involved in the natriuresis following a moderate oral volume load in chronic heart failure. Thus the raised concentrations found in chronic heart failure may contribute to the regulation of urinary sodium excretion under these conditions despite the fact that the diuretic effects of exogenous atrial natriuretic factor are attenuated in chronic heart failure.