How many people have congestive heart failure?

Many and increasing: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common and growing problem. Since it gets commoner with advancing age, it will only get more common. Causes include coronary and valvular heart disease and poorly treated hypertension. Rare causes are viral infections of the heart. Important is that treatment has greatly improved in recent years.

CHF: At the present time there still are about 500, 000 new cases of CHF a year. Better control of hypertension and diabetes and coronary artery disease is hoped to decrease it. The obesity epidemic in the country bodes ill for the future however. We have improved treatments for CHF but nothing beats preventing it.