For this study 428 CHF patients were selected.  Nineteen university and regional hospitals in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK as well as local specialists and GPs were involved. By a random selection process, guided and controlled by an outside specialised institute, patients were allocated to one treatment and two control groups: In group 1 were 169 patients with follow up according to usual clinical practice supplemented by monitoring using conventional telephone contacts plus twice daily telemonitoring equipment interfaces through cordless communications automatically with the telephone, data being transmitted through secure networks to a medical service centre.  In Group 2 were 86 patients, follow up being in accordance with usual clinical practice.  In Group 3 were 173 patients, follow up according to usual clinical practice supplemented by monitoring using convenional telephone contacts.