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Incidence and aetiology of heart failure; a population-based study
M R Cowie1, D A Wood, A J Coats
1Cardiac Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine at the National Heart & Lung Institute, London, UK.
Insights
Heart failure incidence is higher in elderly men, with coronary heart disease as the leading cause. A third of cases remain unexplained by non-invasive tests.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a significant public health concern, particularly in aging populations.
- Understanding the incidence and causes of HF is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and aetiology of new-onset heart failure in the general population.
- To identify demographic and etiological factors associated with heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study involving surveillance of hospital admissions and a rapid access clinic.
- Case ascertainment based on clinical assessment, ECG, chest X-ray, and echocardiography.
- Inclusion of 151,000 individuals over a 20-month period.
Main Results:
- Crude incidence rate of 1.3 cases per 1000 population per year (aged 25+).
- Incidence increases significantly with age, peaking in those 85+.
- Higher incidence observed in males (age-adjusted ratio 1.75).
- Coronary heart disease (36%) was the most common aetiology, followed by unknown (34%) and hypertension (14%).
Conclusions:
- New heart failure cases predominantly affect the elderly, with a higher incidence in men.
- Coronary heart disease is the primary identified cause, but a significant proportion (34%) have undetermined aetiology.
- Elderly individuals should be included in future heart failure clinical trials.
Aims:
To determine the incidence and aetiology of heart failure in the general population.
Methods And Results:
New cases of heart failure were identified from a population of 151 000 served by 82 general practitioners in Hillingdon, West London through surveillance of acute hospital admissions and through a rapid access clinic to which general practitioners referred all new cases of suspected heart failure. On the basis of clinical assessment, electrocardiography, chest radiography and transthoracic echocardiography, a panel of three cardiologists decided that 220 patients met the case definition of new heart failure over a 20 month period (crude incidence rate of 1.3 cases per 1000 population per year for those aged 25 years or over). The incidence rate increased from 0.02 cases per 1000 population per year in those aged 25-34 years to 11.6 in those aged 85 years and over. The incidence was higher in males than females (age-adjusted incidence ratio 1.75 [95% confidence interval 1.34-2.29, P<0.0001]). The median age at presentation was 76 years. The primary aetiologies were coronary heart disease (36%), unknown (34%), hypertension (14%), valve disease (7%), atrial fibrillation alone (5%), and other (5%).
Conclusions:
Within the general population, new cases of heart failure largely occur in the elderly, and the incidence is higher in men than women. The single most common aetiology is coronary heart disease, but in a third of cases the aetiology cannot be determined on the basis of non-invasive investigation alone. To be relevant to clinical practice, future clinical trials in heart failure should not exclude the elderly.
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