Heart Failure in an Aging Population

A new epidemiologic study exposes specific targets for preventive measures.

Race- and sex-specific data about heart failure incidence and the relative contributions of associated risk factors in contemporary community populations are sparse. These investigators assessed the epidemiology of heart failure in 3075 community-dwelling adults aged 70 to 79 participating in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study. Baseline data were collected between April 1997 and June 1998.

Of 2934 participants without heart failure and with complete information at baseline, 258 (8.8%) were hospitalized for first-time heart failure during a median of 7.1 years of follow-up. The annual mortality rate was higher in patients who developed heart failure than in those who did not (18.0% vs. 2.7%). Among preventable risk factors for hear…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)