Prevalence, Incidence and Lifetime Risk of Heart Failure

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) constitutes a global public health problem which is expected to increase substantially due to population aging and improved survival of post-myocardial infarction patients. Clinical epidemiology of HF has not been clearly appreciated over the world. In addition, lifetime risk, incidence, and prevalence of HF reported in the literature depend on the definition used. Obviously, no epidemiologic studies are available yet to evaluate HF prevalence in accordance with the new 2016 ESC guideline definitions. In developed countries, the lifetime HF risk was reported to be 29–33 % at the age of 55 years and about 20 % at the age of 40 years. The prevalence of HF is approximately 1–2 % of the adult population, rising to more than 10 % among people over 70 years of age. Recent reports show a substantial decline in HF incidence, particularly for HF with reduced ejection fraction, but no apparent change in mortality.