How common is Heart failure?

Just how big of a problem is heart failure?

Of all adults aged 40 and older, one in five will develop heart failure in their lifetime¹. Heart failure affects approximately 64 million people worldwide². While it is more common to see heart failure in people over the age of 60, it can affect people of any age and background³. Today, heart failure remains as deadly as some of the most common types of cancer in both men (prostate and bladder cancer) and women (breast cancer)⁴.

Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalisations in people over the age of 65⁵, so awareness could make a big difference in reducing hospital admissions for people living with heart failure. Since there is no cure for heart failure, as people age their symptoms may grow worse and require more medical attention, so a proactive management plan in partnership with your doctor is important.

Heart failure affects 64 million people worldwide²

Of all adults aged 40 and older, one in five will develop heart failure in their lifetime³.

It is the leading cause of hospitalisations in people over the age of 65⁴.

Heart failure is as deadly as some of the most common types of cancer in both men (prostate and bladder cancer) and women (breast cancer)⁵.

What’s the outlook for people with HF?

The outlook for people living with heart failure can vary from case-to-case, which is why proactive management of the condition may be important. Although most people with heart failure will experience some impairments to the lives because of the condition, awareness, meaningful discussion with your doctor and a proactive management plan can all help lessen the severity.

Other health conditions may also be key factors the outlook for people with heart failure. These other conditions can be a factor in re-admissions to hospital that many people with heart failure experience⁶. However, ever increasing medical advances and regimes and close attention to making lifestyle changes can greatly impact the standard of life of an individual and help in reducing symptoms, possibly reducing the need for hospital admission⁷.

And many people with heart failure are living longer. Research continues to search for new ways to prevent heart failure and to improve outcomes for those who have already been diagnosed⁸.

Help us in our goal to increase global awareness of heart failure, and join the movement for change today.

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References

Lloyd-Jones DM, Larson MG, Leip EP, et al. Lifetime risk for developing congestive heart failure: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2002;106(24):3068-3072.

GBD 2016 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet 390 (10100): 1211-1259.

Heart failure. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-failure/. Last accessed 2 September 2020.

Mamas MA, Sperrin M, Watson MC, et al. Do patients have worse outcomes in heart failure than in cancer? A primary care-based cohort study with 10-year follow-up in Scotland. Eur J Heart Fail. 2017;19(9):1095–1104.

Cowie MR, Anker SD, Cleland JGF, et al. Improving care for patients with acute heart failure: before, during and after hospitalization. ESC Heart Fail. 2014;1(2):110-145.Ambrosy AP, Fonarow GC, Butler J, et al. The global health and economic burden of hospitalizations for heart failure: lessons learned from hospitalized heart failure registries. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;63(12):1123-1133.

Benjamin EJ, Blaha MJ, Chiuve SE, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2017 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;135(10):e146-e603.

Ferreira JP, Kraus S, Mitchell S, et al. World Heart Federation Roadmap for Heart Failure. Global Heart. 2019;14(3):197–214.
Braunwald E. The war against heart failure: the Lancet lecture. Lancet. 2015 Feb 28;385(9970):812-24.

11 February 2021

How common is Heart failure?

Just how big of a problem is heart failure?

What’s the outlook for people with HF?

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