Congestive Heart Failure 1

What is Congestive Heart Failure or CHF?

The body is made up of living cells that require a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients in order to survive and remain functional. This "fuel" (oxygen and nutrients) is delivered to the body cells via blood that is pumped by the heart. If the heart muscle weakens, the amount of blood pumped is proportionately reduced. Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the usual demands of the body.

The circulation of blood within the body is carried out within a closed circuit. In other words, all the blood that is pumped to the body is returned to the heart. When fluids do not circulate properly, pressure begins to build up. The rising back pressure of blood in a failing or weakened heart is faced by all parts of the body (liver, lungs, legs, etc.) that empty into the "pump". These organs get congested or "flooded" with fluid as a result of the back pressure. The congestion of the body due to back pressure from a failing heart is known as congestive heart failure or CHF.

The reduced forward flow of the heart directly impacts all areas to which it supplies blood. For example, fatigue will occur if the muscles in the arms and legs get a reduced supply of oxygen and nutrients.

How Common is CHF?

Heart failure is a common condition that affects more than 4.5 million people in the USA, with nearly half a million new cases being diagnosed each year.

• Approximately, 1.2 to 2% of the population have heart failure, and 75-80% of these patients are greater than 65 years of age (in whom the likelihood of heart failure increases to 6-10%).
• It is estimated that nearly 20 million people have unsuspected heart failure, and are likely to develop symptoms in the next 1 -5 years.
• Heart failure is responsible for over 11 million visits to a physician's office, and results in 3.5 million hospitalizations per year. One-third of these patients require repeat hospitalization within three months.

Reference: The Am J Cardiol 83 (2A), Jan 21, 1999

How Serious is CHF?

• Each year, approximately a quarter of a million people die from heart failure.
• The number of deaths from heart failure, either as a primary or secondary cause has increased 6-fold over the last 40 years.
• It is the leading cause of hospitalizations in people who are 65 years or older.
• The risk of death is 5 - 10% per year in patients with mild symptoms and as high as 30-40% in those with severe disease.
• Annually, it is estimated that $25-40 billion is spent in the US in the care of patients with heart failure. $8-15 billion is spent in hospitalizations and the rest in medications, home health care, etc. The estimates do not include indirect costs such as loss of productivity.
• The cost of hospitalization for heart failure is twice that for all forms of cancer.

Reference: The American Journal of Cardiology 83 (2A), Jan 21, 1999

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