What is the mortality rate of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)?

From the Guidelines

The mortality rate for congestive heart failure (CHF) is generally high, with 1-year mortality ranging from 15-30% and 5-year mortality up to 75% in specific populations, as reported in the most recent study 1. For newly diagnosed CHF patients:

• 1-year mortality rate is approximately 20-30%
• 5-year mortality rate is around 45-60% These rates tend to be higher for:
• Older patients (over 65)
• Those with more severe symptoms (NYHA class III or IV)
• Patients with comorbidities like diabetes or kidney disease To improve prognosis, patients should:

1. Adhere to prescribed medications (e.g., ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics)
2. Follow a low-sodium diet (less than 2,000 mg per day)
3. Monitor daily weight and report sudden increases
4. Engage in regular, moderate exercise as tolerated
5. Attend all follow-up appointments with their cardiologist The high mortality rate is due to the progressive nature of CHF, where the heart becomes increasingly unable to pump blood effectively, as supported by the findings of a comprehensive review of epidemiology 1. Key factors influencing mortality rates include the type of heart failure, with HFrEF and HFpEF having different outcomes, as well as socio-economic factors, which can impact access to care and overall health outcomes 1. It is essential to note that while CV death remains a significant cause of mortality in CHF patients, non-CV deaths are also frequent and increasing, particularly in patients with HFpEF 1.

From the Research

Mortality Rate of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

• The annual mortality rate of CHF is estimated to be around 10% to 20% depending on disease severity 2.
• A study found that patients with CHF have a 5-year survival rate of 22% for those with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 28% for those with reduced LVEF 2.
• The prognosis of CHF is similar to that of several malignancies, with increasing trends in both prevalence and incidence rates 3.
• Factors determining prognosis in CHF include functional status, underlying heart disease, left ventricular stroke work, and the presence of ventricular tachycardia 4.
• The 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates for patients with CHF are 78.5%, 59.8%, 50.4%, and 14.7%, respectively 4.
• Comorbidity accounts for the majority of lost life expectancy in people with heart failure, with diabetes, chronic kidney and lung disease being associated with substantial increases in excess lost life 5.
• Men with heart failure experience a greater excess loss of life compared to women, with an additional 2.4 years of lost life 5.
• Women without major comorbidity experience survival close to reference controls, while men still experience excess loss of life 5.