Heart failure (HF) affects approximately 900 000 people in the UK and is a leading cause of hospitalisation, accounting for 5% of emergency admissions. Correct identification of patients with HF holds promise for ensuring that patients receive appropriate intervention and management. However, there is good evidence that this is problematic in two respects: first, with respect to correct diagnosis of the presence or absence of HF; and, second, with respect to correct categorisation of the type of HF, if HF is indeed present.