About Heart Failure
Heart failure is a condition caused by a combination of diseases or factors that damage or overwork the heart muscle, resulting in its inability to pump blood efficiently to meet the requirements of the organs of the body. This condition often leads to serious medical complications and is a leading cause of death. In fact, the overall burden of heart failure in terms of hospitalizations and premature life-years lost is comparable to all common forms of cancer combined.
The most common cause of heart failure is coronary artery disease, including heart attack and unstable angina. The cardiac injury caused by coronary artery disease often results in the development of adverse remodeling. Heart failure can be caused by many other factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes and defects of the heart valves or muscle itself. Patients with heart failure typically exhibit non-specific signs and symptoms such as swollen legs or ankles, shortness of breath, or weight gain. Although the condition is usually progressive, the rate of progression varies markedly from no noticeable deterioration over several years to rapid progression, resulting in death in weeks or months.
Heart Failure Statistics
According to the American Heart Association, heart failure affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans, with approximately 670,000 new cases occurring each year. According to the Study Group on Heart Failure Awareness and Perception in Europe (SHAPE), about 14 million people in Europe suffer from heart failure, and that number is expected to increase to 30 million by the year 2020.
It is estimated that heart failure is responsible for more than 282,000 deaths per year in the United States. Once diagnosed, overall mortality for heart failure is high. One in five patients die within a year of diagnosis. Survival is lower in men than in women, with 59% of men and 45% of women dying within five years of diagnosis. The incidence of heart failure increases with age. Approximately 73% of patients 65 years or older are discharged from hospitals in the United States with a diagnosis of heart failure.
Hospitalizations account for the largest portion of medical expenditures related to heart failure. Many patients are readmitted soon after discharge. Re-hospitalization of HF patients is a significant factor in the utilization of healthcare resources. A recent review of Medicare claims data for rehospitalization showed that patients with a discharge diagnosis of heart failure had a 30-day re-hospitalization rate of 27%, the highest among any group of patients. The direct and indirect cost of heart failure in the United States for 2010 is estimated at $39.2 billion.
Further Reading
- Jencks SF, Williams MV, Coleman EA. Rehospitalizations among patients in the Medicare fee-for-service program N Engl J Med. 2009;360:1418-28.
- Lloyd-Jones D, Adams RJ, Brown TM, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—update: a report from the American Heart Association Circulation. 2010;121:e46-215.
- Stewart S, Ekman I, Ekman T, et al. Population impact of heart failure and the most common forms of cancer—a study of 1 162 309 hospital cases in Sweden (1988 to 2004) Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2010;3:573-80.
For a complete list of related readings, please see our Bibliography.
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