October 31, 2002New England Journal of Medicine2,160 citationsOpen Access
Long-Term Trends in the Incidence of and Survival with Heart Failure
View Full Paper
Key Result
The incidence of heart failure has declined among women but not men over the past 50 years, while survival rates have improved for both sexes.
Key Points
- This research aims to analyze long-term trends in the incidence and survival of heart failure over 50 years.
- Analyzed incidence and survival rates of heart failure across genders over a 50-year period.
- Compared trends between men and women to assess sex differences.
- Incidence of heart failure has declined among women, but not among men.
- Survival rates after the onset of heart failure have improved in both sexes.
Structured PICO
P
Population
Men and women from the Framingham Heart Study cohort (N=10,311 eligible subjects, 1075 incident heart failure cases)
O
Outcome
Temporal trends in the incidence of heart failure and survival (30-day, 1-year, and 5-year age-adjusted mortality rates) after the onset of heart failurehard clinical
Over a 50-year period, the incidence of heart failure significantly declined in women but not men, while survival after the onset of heart failure improved for both sexes.
Limitations
- Study sample was almost exclusively white, and results may not be applicable to different racial and ethnic groups
- Participants may have better access to preventive care and better outcomes after the onset of heart failure than other patients
- Some mild cases of heart failure may not have been detected by clinical criteria
- Unable to examine the effect of therapy on survival after the onset of heart failure
Abstract
Over the past 50 years, the incidence of heart failure has declined among women but not among men, whereas survival after the onset of heart failure has improved in both sexes. Factors contributing to these trends need further clarification.
Cite This Study
Levy et al. (2002) studied this question. The incidence of heart failure has declined among women but not men over the past 50 years, while survival rates have improved for both sexes.