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News
The global burden of heart failure has surged dramatically, with cases more than doubling from 24 million in 1990 to 56 million in 2023, according to a sweeping new Global Burden of Disease study. Population growth and aging are the main culprits, but regional causes vary widely — from ischemic heart disease and hypertension in North America to alcohol use in parts of Europe and the Caribbean. Experts warn the trend is likely to worsen without targeted prevention strategies.
Heart failure is becoming a global crisis. A new analysis published in JAMA Cardiology, drawing on data from 204 countries and territories, found that the worldwide prevalence of heart failure more than doubled between 1990 and 2023 — jumping from roughly 24 million to 56 million cases. The biggest relative increases were seen in East Asia, high-income Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Australasia, though age-standardized rates shifted only modestly, pointing to population growth and aging as the primary drivers.
The picture isn't one-size-fits-all, though. Ischemic heart disease and hypertension dominate as causes among older adults globally, especially in North America. Meanwhile, congenital heart anomalies and rheumatic heart disease are more prevalent in children and young adults, and alcohol use is a major factor in central and eastern Europe, Australasia, and the Caribbean. Experts say these regional differences are key to designing smarter, more targeted interventions.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With poorly managed hypertension and ischemic heart disease still rampant worldwide, the heart failure burden is set to keep climbing. Editorialists highlight low-cost solutions — like cardiovascular polypills and task-sharing between physicians and other healthcare workers — as practical steps that could meaningfully bend the curve.
