Complications
At least 20% of hospitalizations in older adults are due to heart failure. For people over age 65, it is the number one cause of death, with nearly 290,000 people dying from this disease each year. Nevertheless, although heart failure produces very high mortality rates, treatment advances in hypertension, heart surgeries, and heart pacemakers are now improving survival rates in patients with severe heart failure.
Life-Threatening Complications of Heart Failure
The most serious and life-threatening complications of heart failure are:
- Arrhythmias (irregular beatings of the heart)
- Acute pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
Conditions Associated with Left-Side Heart Failure
Left-side heart failure tends to be more severe than right-side heart failure, particularly when it is associated with the following conditions:
- Coronary artery disease
- HIV infection
- Amyloidosis (a metabolic disorder than can lead to organ failure)
- Chemotherapy that uses the drug doxorubicin
The outlook is better in patients with left-side heart failure associated with:
- Idiopathic cardiomyopathy (the cause is unknown)
- Heart failure due to childbirth
Other Conditions Associated with Heart Failure Severity
Weight Issues. If patients with heart failure are overweight to begin with, their condition tends to be more severe. Once heart failure develops, however, an important indicator of a worsening condition is the occurrence of cardiac cachexia, which is unintentional rapid weight loss (a loss of at least 7.5% of normal weight within 6 months).
Impaired Kidney Function. Heart failure weakens the heart’s ability to pump blood. This can affect other parts of the body including the kidneys (which in turn can lead to fluid build-up). Decreased kidney function is common in patients with heart failure, both as a complication of heart failure and as a complication of other diseases associated with heart failure (such as diabetes). Studies suggest that in patients with heart failure, impaired kidney function increases the risks for heart complications including hospitalization and death.
Congestion (Fluid Buildup). In left-sided heart failure, fluid builds up first in the lungs. Later, as right-sided heart failure develops, fluid builds up in the legs, feet, and abdomen. According to one study, patients with severe symptoms who had congestion (fluid buildup) had poorer survival rates than those without fluid build up. Two-year survival rates were 87% in those who were congestion-free compared to 41 - 67% in patients with various signs of congestion (such as swelling, difficulty breathing when lying down, and weight gain from fluid buildup). Fluid buildup is treated with lifestyle measures such as reducing salt in the diet, as well as drugs such as diuretics. Sometimes, for hospitalized patients, an ultrafiltration device is used to remove excess water and salt from the body (see Surgery and Devices).
Atrial Fibrillation. This abnormal rhythm is a rapid quivering beat in the upper chambers of the heart. It is a major cause of stroke and very dangerous in people with heart failure.
Left Bundle Branch Block. Left bundle-branch block is an abnormality in electrical conduction in the heart. It develops in about 30% of patients with heart failure and is a major risk factor for serious adverse heart events.
Sleep Apnea. With this disorder a person stops breathing during the night, perhaps hundreds of times, usually for periods of 10 seconds or longer. It is a very strong risk factor for heart failure, and patients with apnea have a higher mortality rate than those without it.
Depression. The presence of depression indicates a poorer outlook for the heart. Studies indicate that depression may have adverse biologic effects on the immune and nervous systems, blood clotting, blood pressure, blood vessels, and heart rhythms.
Seasonal and Daily Patterns. Studies have shown that more emergency room visits and higher mortality rates occur during winter months and on Mondays in patients with heart failure. One factor in this higher risk may be sudden and strenuous exertion, particularly snow-shoveling, which is associated with a risk for heart attack in people with heart problems.
