AbstractBackground and AimsPatients who experience hospitalizations due to heart failure (HF) face a significant risk of readmission and mortality. Our objective was to evaluate whether the risk of hospitalization and mortality following discharge from HF hospitalization differed based on adherence to the outpatient follow‐up (FU) protocol comprising an appointment with a general practitioner (GP) within 15 days, a cardiologist within 2 months or both (termed combined FU).MethodsWe studied all adults admitted for a first HF hospitalization from 2016 to 2020 in France's Grand Est region. Association between adherence to outpatient FU and outcomes were assessed with time‐dependent survival analysis model.ResultsAmong 67 476 admitted patients (mean age 80.3 ± 11.3 years, 53% women), 62 156 patients (92.2%) were discharged alive and followed for 723 (317–1276) days. Combined FU within 2 months was used in 21.1% of patients, with lower rates among >85 years, women, and those with higher comorbidity levels (p < 0.0001 for all). Combined FU was associated with a lower one‐year death or rehospitalization (adjusted HR = 0.91, 0.88–0.94, p < 0.0001) mostly related to lower mortality (adjusted HR = 0.65, 0.62–0.68, p < 0.0001) whereas HF readmission was higher (adjusted HR = 1.19, 1.15–1.24, p < 0.0001). When analyzing components of combined FU separately, one‐year mortality was more related to cardiologist FU (HR = 0.65, 0.62 to 0.67, p < 0.0001), than GP FU (HR = 0.87, 0.85 to 0.90, p < 0.0001).ConclusionCombined follow‐up is carried out in a minority of patients following HF hospitalization, yet it is linked to a substantial reduction in one‐year mortality, albeit at the expense of an increase in HF hospitalizations.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.