Image

The latest findings on heart failure (HF) published by Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) reveal a concerning rise in the prevalence, mortality, and impact of this debilitating condition in the United States. According to the HF Stats 2024: Heart Failure Epidemiology and Outcomes Statistics, approximately 6.7 million Americans over the age of 20 currently live with heart failure, a figure projected to rise to 8.7 million by 2030, 10.3 million by 2040, and a staggering 11.4 million by 2050. The report was published today in the Journal of Cardiac Failure (JCF).
This year's findings underscore some of the most alarming trends seen in heart failure in recent years. While HF rates have steadily increased over the last decade, the 2024 report shows that the problem is growing even more severe, particularly in younger populations, racial and ethnic minority groups, and those with multiple health conditions.
While trends among patient populations are concerning, the report also identifies challenges with implementation and reporting. Despite established guidelines emphasizing the timely initiation of guideline directed medical therapies (GMDT), the data indicate that implementation is falling short, which may be fueling the increase in both mortality and hospitalization rates for HF, particularly among at-risk populations. Inconsistent coding practices that fail to recognize HF as a primary underlying cause of death may lead to under-detection and under-reporting of HF deaths, suggesting that the actual burden of HF may be higher than current data shows.
"The shifts in age distribution, worsening in mortality rates, widening racial and ethnic disparities –which may be a reflection of systematic and structural barriers to appropriate and timely health care – should be a wake-up call for clinicians, payers, legislators, funding agencies, and the overall healthcare system," said Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine and chair of the HFSA Data in HF Committee. "We need to address worsening trends in heart failure, not only through medical interventions and properly implemented GDMT, but by tackling the growing challenges in health care regarding access and coverage for appropriate and timely care, the effect of mis-incentivization of wrong care such as inappropriate discontinuation of therapies, and social determinants of health that are driving widening disparities."
Concerning Findings in the HF Stats 2024: Heart Failure Epidemiology and Outcomes Statistics
The HF Stats 2024: Heart Failure Epidemiology and Outcomes Statistics highlights several key findings, revealing an evolving crisis that could impact millions of Americans over the coming decades:
Along with the inaugural report, HFSA launched HFStats.org, an online repository of these HF statistics, complete with Fact Sheets, Infographics, and other downloadable materials. Updated and new statistics from HF Stats 2024: Heart Failure Epidemiology and Outcomes Statistics will be made available on HFStats.org in the coming months. At present time, the report is published in JCF and available online under Articles in Press at www.onlinejcf.com.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2023.07.006
Summary of Top 10 Key Points
About the Heart Failure Society of America
The Heart Failure Society of America, Inc. (HFSA) represents the first organized effort by heart failure experts from the Americas to provide a forum for all those interested in heart function, heart failure, and congestive heart failure (CHF) research and patient care. The mission of HFSA is to provide a platform to improve and expand heart failure care through collaboration, education, innovation, research, and advocacy. HFSA members include physicians, scientists, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, trainees, other healthcare workers and patients. For more information, visit hfsa.org.
About the Journal of Cardiac Failure
The Journal of Cardiac Failure (JCF) publishes the highest quality science in the field of heart failure with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, mentorship, multidisciplinary partnerships, and patient-centeredness. Published papers span original investigator-initiated work to state-of-the-art reviews, guidelines and scientific statements, expert perspectives, early career and trainee spotlight pieces, patient and patient-partner narratives. JCF also emphasizes the power of language and prioritizes innovative approaches to dissemination of published work to reach and impact the broader heart failure community.
SOURCE Heart Failure Society of America