Essentials of chronic heart failure (CHF)
Epidemiological data have highlighted the growing prevalence of CHF, which is associated with reduced QoL and high morbidity and mortality1.
There are at least 15 million patients with CHF in the 51 countries represented by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
- This represents a prevalence of 2% to 3%.
- Prevalence rises sharply at 75 years of age with rates of between 10% and 20% in 70- to 80-year-old people.
- Mortality is 50% at 4 years post diagnosis
- 40% of patients admitted to hospital with CHF are dead or readmitted within 1 year1.
The majority of patients with CHF have multiple concomitant conditions2-4, which can complicate the natural course of the disease, impact therapeutic decisions and adversely affect patient outcomes.
- In particular, CKD is a clinically relevant and increasingly common comorbidity – it is estimated that more than half of patients with CHF have some degree of renal impairment.
References
1. Dickstein K et al. Eur J Heart Fail 2008;10: 933-89
2. Fang J et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008;52:428–434
3. Fonarow GC. Am Heart J 2008;155:200–207
4. Dries DL et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2000;35:681–689
