Heart Failure Survival and Life Expectancy

Nearly half of all adults in the United States have cardiovascular disease, which means disease of the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular). Heart failure (HF) is 1 type of cardiovascular disease. HF occurs when the heart is not able to pump blood effectively. In the US, over 6 million people have heart failure.^1,2

HF is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death. The condition accounts for almost 1 in 10 deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. The risk for death is highest during the first year after being hospitalized due to HF.^1-3

What factors can affect HF outcomes?

Outcomes in people with HF vary greatly between different people. Some of the factors that can affect the outcomes of HF include:^3-5

• Age – Survival rates after HF diagnosis often depend on how old people were when they were diagnosed. People over the age of 75 are more likely to be hospitalized due to HF. They are also more likely to experience worse outcomes than younger people with HF.
• Biological sex – On average, women with HF live longer than men with HF. According to 1 study, HF reduced the lifespan of men by an average of 9.1 years. But it reduced the lifespan of women by only an average of 5.5 years.
• Comorbidities – People with HF who also live with other health conditions (called comorbidities) usually have worse outcomes. These health conditions often are related to the heart, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) or irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation). They also may include other diseases such as diabetes or cancer.
• Early diagnosis – Getting diagnosed during the early stages of HF can lead to better outcomes. Also, people who do not need to be hospitalized when diagnosed with HF have better survival rates.
• Treatment – Getting the right treatment for HF can improve outcomes greatly. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medicines, or surgical procedures.

How heart failure affects lifespan

Researchers have conducted several studies to find out the life expectancy of people with HF. On average, they determined that people with HF have a lifespan that is 7 to 10 years shorter than people without HF.^1,3

Age at the time of diagnosis plays a big role in the survival rate after diagnosis. In 1 study, just over half of people diagnosed between ages 18 and 54 were alive 10 years later. On the other hand, only about 12 percent of people diagnosed between ages 75 and 84 were alive 10 years later.³

So, the 10-year survival rate for younger people with HF is higher. But younger people lose more years from their expected lifespan. According to 1 study, people who were hospitalized for HF between ages 18 and 54 lost an average of 20 years from their expected lifespan. In comparison, people hospitalized between ages 75 and 84 lost 6 years. People hospitalized over the age of 85 lost 3 years.³

Acute versus chronic HF

Acute HF and chronic HF can lead to different outcomes. People with chronic HF develop symptoms over a longer period of time. Acute HF is characterized by a sudden worsening or onset of symptoms.⁴

Overall, the survival rate is higher for people with chronic HF than for those with acute HF. Basically, this means that those with chronic HF typically live longer. Research shows that:^3,4

• Chronic HF – About 57 percent of people with chronic HF survive for 5 years after diagnosis. And about 35 percent of them survive for 10 years after diagnosis.
• Acute HF – About 34 percent of people with acute HF survive for 5 years after diagnosis. And about 17 percent of them survive for 10 years after diagnosis.

Improving outcomes

Over the past few decades, survival rates for people with HF have improved. Along with early diagnosis and treatment of HF, you can help improve your personal outcomes in several ways. These include:^2,5

• Do not smoke.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Get enough sleep.
• Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.