Age-standardized mortality rates for heart failure in Australia decreased between 1997 and 2003, with HF coded as the underlying cause in 3.2% of 907,242 total deaths.
Observational (n=907,242)
Mortality rates for heart failure in Australia decreased between 1997 and 2003, indicating a real epidemiological decline rather than just changes in condition awareness.
Objective To assess whether trends in mortality from heart failure (HF) in Australia are due to a change in awareness of the condition or real changes in its epidemiology. Methods We carried out a retrospective analysis of official data on national mortality data between 1997 and 2003. A death was attributed to HF if the death certificate mentioned HF as either the underlying cause of death (UCD) or among the contributory factors. Findings From a total of 907 242 deaths, heart failure was coded as the UCD for 29 341 (3.2%) and was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate in 135 268 (14.9%). Between 1997 and 2003, there were decreases in the absolute numbers of deaths and in the age-specific and age-standardized mortality rates for HF either as UCD or mentioned anywhere for both sexes. HF was mentioned for 24.6% and 17.8% of deaths attributed to ischaemic heart disease and circulatory disease, respectively, and these proportions remained unchanged over the period of study. In addition, HF as UCD accounted for 8.3% of deaths attributed to circulatory disease and this did not change materially from 1997 to 2003.
Farid Najafi (Thu,) conducted a observational in Heart failure (n=907,242). Age-standardized mortality rates for heart failure in Australia decreased between 1997 and 2003, with HF coded as the underlying cause in 3.2% of 907,242 total deaths.