Heart failure predominantly affects older people and can cause prolonged hospitalisation, chronic disability and poor survival when untreated.
Age distribution and hospital burden
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The stated prevalence is 1.6% in the UK adult population and around 14% among people aged 80–89 years.
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Most UK patients admitted with heart failure are older than 70 years. They typically remain hospitalised for at least a week and may be left with chronic disability.
Prognosis
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Prognosis depends partly on the underlying cause, but untreated heart failure generally has a poor outlook.
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The passage reports that approximately 50% of patients with severe heart failure due to left ventricular dysfunction die within 2 years, from pump failure or malignant ventricular arrhythmias.
Causes and diagnostic importance
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Coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction are the most common causes, although almost all forms of heart disease can lead to heart failure.
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Accurate diagnosis matters because treating the underlying cause may reverse heart failure or prevent progression.