摘要：Background: Little is known about the m.nagem.nt of elderly patients with congstive heart failure(CHF) although they represent the m.jority of the CHF population. Therefore, the TIm.-CHF study was set up(1) to evaluate the m.dical m.nagem.nt of very old patients(≥75 years) with CHF com.ared with younger patients(60-74 years),(2) to com.are an intensified with a standard treatm.nt approach, and(3) to differentiate between systolic and diastolic dysfunction(ejection fraction ≤45%vs >45%). m.thods: In a prospective single-blinded m.lticenter trial, 824 sym.tom.tic patients, CHF hospitalization within the last year and elevated NT-BNP, are random.zed to an intensified versus a standard m.dical therapy. Treatm.nt strategies follow the published guidelines with the aim.to reduce sym.tom. to NYHA class ≤II(standard) or, additionally, NT-BNP levels below twice the upper lim.t of norm.l(intensified). The prim.ry end points are 18-m.nth hospitalization-free survival and quality of life. Results: By the end of 2004, 297 patients have been included, 147 random.zed to intensified and 150 to standard therapy. m.an age in the older age group was 82±4 years(n=174) and 69±4 years in the younger group(n=123), respectively. Ejection fraction was >45%in 26%and 10%, respectively. Significant com.rbidities were present in 93%of patients. Conclusion: TIm.-CHF will be the first prospective random.zed trial to com.rehensively study the m.nagem.nt of elderly patients with CHF. It will provide unique inform.tion com.aring two treatm.nt strategies in two age groups irrespective of ejection fraction regarding prognosis, quality of life, as well as resource utilization and costs.