Heart failure in China: a review of the literature

Heart failure (HF) is a serious disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. In China, as in other countries, it is a common cause for hospital admission; however, as yet there are few data documenting the epidemiology and management of HF in China, or quality of life-related considerations in this population. This review aims to identify relevant Chinese and English language publications that discuss the causes, risks, treatment, and health outcomes (costs, health-related quality of life) of HF in China (excluding Taiwan and Hong Kong). The prevalence of HF in China appears to be lower than that reported in many Western countries, including the US. Hypertension and coronary heart disease are the leading causes of HF in China, as they are in many Western nations, potentially highlighting the improvement in socioeconomic conditions in China. Evidence suggests that use of newer pharmacological agents for the treatment of HF is increasing; however, it is still believed that there is a lack of physician knowledge regarding newer, more effective treatment options, with rural (poor) areas appearing to be the most reliant on older, less expensive, medications. Interest in Chinese quality of life measures for HF has risen recently, with the development of valid and reliable rating scales in the Chinese population. Although the amount of available literature on HF in China is improving, there remain significant gaps in our understanding of the issue, and further research is needed to provide a reliable Chinese evidence base for the improvement of clinical practice.