Skip to Accessibility Menu Skip to Login Skip to Content Skip to Footer
A heart with glowing circles around it showing different comorbid conditions of heart failure - arthritis, pneumonia and anemia.

Other Comorbidities

Editorial Team's avatar image

By Editorial Team

3 min read

Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: November 2024 | Last updated: November 2024

A comorbidity is a health condition that happens at the same time as another one. Commonly known comorbidities of heart disease include kidney damage, obesity, and diabetes. But other conditions can also occur with heart failure. Examples include gout, arthritis, pneumonia, and anemia.1-5

Gout

Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. It affects 3 to 4 percent of adults in the United States. Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a normal part of our blood that is typically eliminated from the body by the kidneys and intestines. But when you have gout, the high levels cause crystals to build up in your joints. This can cause:2,3,6

  • Pain
  • Inflammation
  • Swelling

People who have heart failure are more likely to have gout. This can be because certain medicines for heart failure, like diuretics, can increase uric acid levels. Additionally, gout and heart failure have similar risk factors, such as obesity and long-term alcohol use. Gout may also increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.2,3

Healthy lifestyle habits can help you manage gout. This includes eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Some foods contain compounds called purines, which break down to uric acid. You may have to avoid foods rich in purines, such as:2,3

By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

  • Red meat
  • Shellfish
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Mushrooms
  • Certain vegetables

There are also drugs your doctor can prescribe to lower uric acid levels.2,3

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. This means it is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body. In RA, the immune system attacks the lining of joints. This causes inflammation and pain.3,7

Chronic inflammation can increase the risk of heart disease. Inflammatory agents in the body can impact the heart and make heart attacks more likely.3

People with RA have a 50 to 70 percent higher chance of developing heart disease. Also, about half of adults with heart disease have arthritis. Other types of arthritis that are linked with heart disease include psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis.3

There are many different types of drugs that treat RA or other types of arthritis. However, some arthritis treatments may increase the risk of heart disease. Work with your doctor to find the best RA treatment option for you.3,7

Pneumonia

Between 5 and 6 million people in the United States get pneumonia every year. About 1 million of those people will need hospitalization. Pneumonia is the name for an infection in your lungs. It causes your lungs to swell and can cause:4,8

  • Fluid or pus in the lungs
  • Fever
  • Wet cough
  • Trouble breathing

Infections like pneumonia can stress the heart. About 1 in 3 people who are hospitalized for pneumonia develop heart related complications. Additionally, people with heart disease are about 3 times as likely to get pneumonia. The link between pneumonia and heart disease is higher for older adults.4,8

Treatment for pneumonia can depend on the type and how serious it is. There are also vaccines available for certain types of pneumonia, called pneumococcal pneumonia. Like flu shots, these vaccines do not guarantee that you will not get pneumonia. But they can decrease the likelihood of getting pneumonia and make cases less serious.4,8

Unlike a flu shot, you do not need to get the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine every year. Talk to your doctor about whether a pneumonia shot is right for you.

Anemia

Anemia is a blood condition caused by not having enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen around the body. Symptoms of anemia include:5,9

  • Dizziness
  • Tiredness
  • Chest pain
  • Fast heartbeat

Anemia is more common in people who have heart failure. If you do not have enough red blood cells, your heart has to work harder to pump blood and provide oxygen to the body. This can be hard on the heart. Complications from heart failure may also impact the bone marrow, which makes red blood cells. Anemia increases the risk that a person with heart failure will have to go to the hospital.5,9

Treatment for anemia varies based on the cause. Your doctor may suggest certain drugs or iron supplements. This is because iron is a critical part of red blood cells, and not having enough iron in the blood can be a cause of anemia. But more research is needed to determine the best anemia treatments for people with heart failure.5,9