OBJECTIVES: To describe and analyze heart failure (HF) patients, disease pathway and related healthcare resource use and expenditures in France. METHODS: Analysis was based on EGB (“Echantillon Généraliste des Bénéficiaires”) database, a permanent random sample (1/97) of the French national healthcare insurance system database (SNIIRAM), linked with the national hospital discharge summary database (PMSI). Patients were selected on the following criteria: HF classified as long-term disease (ALD scheme) in 2012 and/or at least 1 HF hospitalization (ICD-10 codes) on 2008-2012 period and/or at least 3 reimbursements of HF recommended drugs (including beta-blockers (BB), angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), angiotensin-receptor-blockers (ARB), diuretics, digoxin, ivabradine) in 2012. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Patients are not optimally managed for their HF, with a limited healthcare resource use. Despite a high rate of hospitalization, cardiologist visits remain at a very low frequency in this HF population. Better referring these patients to cardiologists should improve their management and optimize drugs prescription as recommanded in the guidelines.