Heart Failure in Poland: A 20-Year Epidemiological Perspective

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality in Poland, with heart failure (HF) presenting a significant public health issue. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to analyze trends in HF incidence, hospitalization rates, patient demographics, and mortality over two decades A comparative analysis was performed using data from two national reports: (1) the 2013 report “Heart Failure—Analysis of Economic and Social Costs, “ assessing HF patients from 2004 to 2012, and (2) the 2023 report “Heart Failure in Poland 2014–2021,” based on data from the Polish Ministry of Health, National Health Fund, and HTA Consulting. This study examined the prevalence of HF (ICD-10 codes: I50, J81), hospitalization rates, comorbidities, mortality trends, and access to rehabilitation. Results: Between 2014 and 2019, the number of HF patients grew by 34%, reaching 1.02 million in 2019. Only 9% of HF patients were younger than 60 years. Multimorbidity was common, with arterial hypertension, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and arrhythmias, often preceding HF diagnosis. HF-related mortality increased, with 149,963 in 2021, compared to 16,606 in 2012. In 2019, hospitalizations related to HF increased by 41% compared to 2014. The economic burden of HF care increased by 117% between 2014 and 2020, with hospitalizations accounting for 94% of total costs, up from 65% in 2012. Access to cardiac rehabilitation remained limited. Conclusions: HF prevalence, hospitalization rates, and mortality have increased in Poland, alongside a rising burden of multimorbidity. These findings provide a foundation for future healthcare planning to reduce the impact of HF in Poland.