[Epidemiology of heart insufficiency]

The epidemiology of congestive heart failure is not well known in France, despite its dramatic economic impact on the health care system. The number of patients with congestive heart failure is about 500,000 with 120,000 new cases per year. The incidence ranges from 4@1000 in men and 3@1000 in women 55-64 years old to 50@1000 in men and 85@1000 in women 85-94 years old. Mean age at onset is 73.5 years, and two thirds of the patients are older than 70 years of age. There are about 3,500,000 outpatient visits and 150,000 hospitalizations for congestive heart failure every year. It is responsible for more than 32,000 deaths every year. Costs of congestive heart failure represent more than 1% of the total medical costs. It represents a major and growing public health burden. This should encourage us to optimize its medical treatment and prevention.