The aim of this study was to identify the factors negatively affecting the course of chronic heart failure (CHF) and prognosis in elderly patients having been observed in the polyclinic. Data were collected on 248 patients aged 60 to 85 years with CHF II–IV FC NYHA due to ischemic heart disease or hypertension. During the period over two years there were hospitalized 191 (77 %) patients. There were detected independent risk factors for hospitalization of elderly patients with heart failure and low adherence to treatment, as well as predictors of their development. It was shown that low therapy adherence was associated with non-severe chronic heart failure, preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and low level of a patient's education.