True or False: Heart Failure Doubled During Past 25 Years

By Adam Pick on November 11, 2008

It’s time for another “True or False” quiz… That said, is the following statement true or false?

The American Heart Association just reported that twice as many Americans are hospitalized with heart failure today compared to 25 years ago.

 

 

 
 

According to the AHA, the statement above is TRUE. Twice as many Americans are hospitalized due to heart failure as a result of the aging population and success in keeping people alive after heart attacks.

 

  • The study found 807,082 people aged 65 and older were hospitalized in heart failure during 2006. This represents a 131% increase from 348,866 people in 1980.
  • The study also found the risk for heart failure among women is growing faster than in men, though men are still more likely to wind up in the hospital each year. The risk also increased with age, as patients aged 75 to 85 were twice as likely to wind up in the hospital as younger people.

 

Needless to say, we are living in an epidemic of heart disease. Please continually monitor your heart to prevent against any unforeseen and unwanted trips to the hospital.

Keep on tickin!
Adam


Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick, Heart Valve Patient Advocate

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.


Leslie Lafayette says on November 11th, 2008 at 4:39 pm

Adam, the upswing in heart failure has been blamed on the use of statins. The question is – is the heart muscle weakened by use of statins? Co Enzyme Q-10 could make a difference in the prevention of heart failure or at least slow it down. I don’t know these things for sure but I have been researching all this. There is a lot of information out there on the net. More women than men are being diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction. I have been told I have probably diastolic dysfunction from my last three echocardiograms. Also, enlargement of the heart is on the increrase. This is a VERY important subject – more of us are going to fight heart failure than heart attacks … I just saw Dr. Shemin at UCLA and now have an upcoming TEE to look at a leaking tricuspid valve and double check my repaired mitral. I will stay in touch!
Leslie


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