Heart Failure Prevalence in People Aged 80 and Older
Heart failure affects approximately 10-20% of people in their late 80s or older, with the incidence reaching around 20% among those over 75 years. 1, 2
Specific Prevalence Data by Age
The prevalence of heart failure increases dramatically with advancing age:
- Approximately 10-20% of individuals aged 80 and older have some form of heart failure 1
- The incidence reaches around 20% among people over 75 years old 2
- Approximately 80% of all heart failure cases in the United States occur in persons aged 65 years and older 3
Context and Clinical Significance
Age-Related Patterns
- Heart failure represents the leading cause of hospitalization in patients older than 65 years in Western countries 2
- The median age of heart failure patients is approximately 75 years, with about 70% of patients between 65 and 85 years old 4
- Among octogenarians (those in their 80s), heart failure is so prevalent that some authors consider it a geriatric syndrome 2
Gender Distribution in the Elderly
- While the overall number of men and women with heart failure is roughly equal, approximately 60% of heart failure patients over 75 years are female 4
- Elderly heart failure patients are more often female compared to younger cohorts 5
Type of Heart Failure in the Elderly
- In elderly patients where ejection fraction was assessed, approximately 61% had preserved ejection fraction (EF ≥50%) 6
- The prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is steadily increasing and may become the most common form of heart failure in the future 4
- The prevalence of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction declines with age, while diastolic dysfunction becomes more common 5
Prognosis in This Age Group
The prognosis for heart failure in people aged 80 and older is particularly poor:
- The 5-year survival rate in patients over 80 years hospitalized for heart failure is only 19%, dramatically lower than the 48% survival of age- and sex-matched general population 6
- Cardiovascular causes account for over 60% of deaths in this population 6
- Nearly half of elderly patients are readmitted within 6 months following hospitalization for heart failure 3