Heart Failure Is Becoming More Common in Adults Under 65, Report Finds
Two recent reports show that heart failure is on the rise among adults under 65. Portra · E+/Getty Heart failure hospitalization and mortality rates are increasing among adults under 65, highlighting a growing concern for younger adults. The global burden of heart failure has grown significantly since 1990, with researchers pointing to population growth and aging as major contributing factors.…
Recent reports indicate a growing prevalence of heart failure in adults under the age of 65. This trend has significant implications for younger populations worldwide. According to a Global Burden of Disease (GBD) analysis published in JAMA Cardiology, the number of people living with heart failure increased more than two-fold between 1990 and 2023, reaching an estimated 56 million individuals globally.
Heart failure is a chronic condition characterized by the heart's inability to pump sufficient blood to meet the body's demands. Despite being termed "failure," the heart does not cease beating. A separate 2026 report by the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) revealed that heart failure accounted for over 450,000 deaths in the United States in 2023, with a notable surge in mortality among adults under 65.
In the U.S., approximately 7.7 million adults (3%) are diagnosed with heart failure, a figure projected to rise to 8.7 million by 2030, 10.3 million by 2040, and 11.4 million by 2050. The GBD researchers emphasize that the increasing burden of heart failure can be attributed to population growth and aging, as well as the need for targeted prevention and treatment strategies addressing common risk factors such as ischemic heart disease and hypertension.
Between 2010 and 2022, heart failure hospitalization rates notably increased among adults under 65, while declining among those 65 and older. Similarly, heart failure mortality rates more than doubled among adults aged 25 to 44 between 2001 and 2020, and nearly doubled among those aged 45 to 64. Experts suggest that the rise in cardiovascular risk factors among younger generations, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea, may be contributing to earlier onset of heart failure.
Early detection methods are also improving, potentially leading to more timely diagnoses and interventions. The most common causes of heart failure vary by age and region. In older adults, ischemic heart disease and hypertension are prominent causes. However, congenital heart abnormalities, rheumatic heart disease, and alcohol use are significant contributors among children, young adults, and middle-aged adults in different regions.
Regional disparities also exist, with rheumatic heart disease prevalent in South Asia, East Asia, and parts of sub-Saharan Africa, while alcohol use is a major factor in Eastern Europe, Australasia, the Caribbean, and Central Europe. Preventing heart failure is possible by managing key risk factors. These include maintaining a healthy blood pressure, limiting alcohol consumption, avoiding tobacco use, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and effectively managing conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.
Early medical intervention is crucial, as heart failure can often be treated or even reversed when diagnosed in its early stages.
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