Ten year age‐ and sex‐specific temporal trends in incidence and prevalence of heart failure in Västra Götaland, Sweden

Abstract

Abstract Aim Heart failure (HF) is predominantly a disorder of the elderly. During the last decades, cardiovascular primary and secondary prevention and life expectancy have improved. Accordingly, trends in incidence and prevalence of HF are dynamic and may differ over time by age and gender. We aim to investigate the overall and age‐specific and sex‐specific trends, in incidence, prevalence, and the proportion with co‐morbidities of HF over a 10 year period in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden. Methods and results The VEGA database is an administrative database of all patients managed in hospital and/or in primary care (private and public) living in Region Västra Götaland. All patients with a main or contributory diagnosis of HF (I50) aged 18 years or older between 2008 and 2017 were included. Incidence and prevalence of HF were calculated based on the entire adult population of Region Västra Götaland. The adult population in Region Västra Götaland increased by 8% from 2008 (n = 1 234 609) to 2017 (n = 1 338 906). Half the population was female and 69% 75 years. A constantly higher incidence of HF was seen for men compared with women in all age categories, RR 1.46 (95% CI 1.44–1.49), P 85 years of age who had a prevalence of 16.5% (men) and 14.6% (women) in 2008 and 23.5% (men) and 21.5% (women) in 2017. The overall 1 year mortality rate was 22.7%. When adjusted for age, women had a lower risk for death by 13% compared with men [hazard ratio 0.87 (95% CI 0.84–0.90, P 85 years. Our findings emphasize the need for implementation of effective preventive strategies for HF.

Keywords

• Heart failure
• Prevalence
• Incidence
• Mortality