Epidemiology of heart failure in a community‐based study of subjects aged ≥57 years: Incidence and long‐term survival

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Abstract
Survival data from hospital-based or clinical trial studies of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) do not represent survival in community-based settings. To determine the incidence of CHF and the associated long-term survival in a community-based sample aged > or = 57 years and to assess the mortality risk associated with sex and age. This study was part of the Groningen Longitudinal Aging Study. Annual incidence of CHF per 1000 ranged from 2.5 in middle aged adults (57-60 years) up to 22.4 in older females (> or = 80 years) and 28.2 in older males (> or = 80 years). The 1, 2, 5 and 7-year survival rates were 74%, 65%, 45%, 32% for patients with CHF, compared to 97%, 94%, 80% and 70% in a matched reference group without CHF. Higher age (> or = 76 years) was a risk factor for mortality (OR = 2.1) and male sex was a risk factor in those aged < or = 75 years (OR = 1.9) but not for older patients. Long-term survival rates for patients with CHF in the community were worse than the known survival rates from clinical trials. There is a need for studies describing the care of patients with CHF in the community, including the type of care, the provider, the quality of care and the outcome.