We studied awareness of physicians of the city health clinics (polyclinics) about the causes of heart failure in hypertensive patients and their attitude to the prevention of complications of hypertension. The study involved 194 general practitioners from five regions of Russia. The questionnaire method in the form of single-blind questionnaire survey was used. It was found that 36.6% (95% confidence interval [DI] from 29.81 to 43.80) of respondents were aware of the cause-effect relation between hypertension and heart failure. Only 31.44% (95% DI from 24.98 to 38.48) medical professionals perceived left ventricular hypertrophy as risk factor for heart failure in people with high blood pressure. The percentage of internists-respondents who were aware of the major mechanisms of heart failure in hypertension was 28.37% (95% DI from 21.18 to 4.16]. Outdated or incorrect professional notions can become a barrier to early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart failure in patients with hypertension.