Why are heart failure rates increasing after the pandemic?

Heart failure rates are increasing due to a combination of worsening cardiometabolic risk factors, disruptions in routine healthcare, and delayed diagnoses during and after the pandemic.

Who is most affected by the rise in heart failure?

The sharpest increases in heart failure are occurring among adults under 65, men, Black people, and residents of the South and Midwest regions.

Is heart failure a new health crisis?

No, heart failure is not new, but its recent rise reflects cumulative damage exacerbated by pandemic-related gaps in care and pre-existing cardiometabolic risks.

Home / Health / Heart Failure Surges: Pandemic's Lingering Toll Revealed

Heart Failure Surges: Pandemic's Lingering Toll Revealed

13 Jan

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Summary

Heart failure rates are rising, signaling a lasting pandemic impact.
Younger adults, men, and minority groups show sharpest increases.
Cardiometabolic risks and disrupted care contribute to the trend.

Heart Failure Surges: Pandemic's Lingering Toll Revealed

The lasting impact of the recent pandemic is now clearly linked to a significant increase in heart failure cases. This chronic condition, reflecting cumulative damage rather than sudden events, is sensitive to disruptions in routine medical care and long-term patient management. The observed rise is not due to new biological factors but a convergence of worsening cardiometabolic risk factors, systemic health failures, and the residual effects of pandemic-era care interruptions.

Nationally, heart failure death rates, after a period of decline, began reversing course around 2011 and have accelerated since the early COVID-19 period. This upward trend is particularly pronounced among adults under 65, men, Black individuals, and populations residing in rural areas, the South, and the Midwest. These demographic shifts are unusual and have caused concern among cardiovascular specialists.