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Introduction to Congestive Heart Failure
Facts about Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is estimated to affect about 5 million people in the United States or about 1.7% of the overall population.
Approximately 550,000 new cases of CHF are diagnosed in the United States each year.
Congestive heart failure is a disease that primarily affects older individuals with an estimated prevalence of about 10% in people age 80 or older. It is less commonly observed in individuals younger than age 50.
Congestive heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalization in people over the age of 65 and is estimated to be a contributing factor to nearly 250,000 deaths annually.
Congestive heart failure is recognized as a major source of chronic disability and impaired quality of life in elderly people.
Congestive heart failure is one of the most costly diseases in the United States with an estimated annual cost of over $4 billion.
