Online CPR Certification Blog

Published on April 24, the statement which appeared in the website of Circulation: Heart failure journal predicted a staggering increase of 46 percent of total number of persons in the country suffering from heart failure. This was represented by a shift from the present 5 million people in 2012 to about 8 million by 2030. At the same period, both the direct and indirect costs for heart failure treatment are expected to more than double jumping from the current $31 billion to not less than $70 billion. If efforts to reduce or improve heart failure incidences are not undertaken by treating and preventing underlying heart conditions, the country is expected to experience a large health and monetary burden. This is according to Paul Heidenreich of Stanford University School of Medicine. This cost will have to be catered for by all adults in the country and not just those people suffering from heart failure conditions.

Factors increasing the risk of heart failure

The increasing incidence of heart failure conditions in the country is being accelerated by the increasing number of aging population as well as an increase in people with other health conditions like ischemic heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. Other risk factors are being a smoker, poor, a minority and old. According to Heidenreich, the most crucial thing in treating this condition is being aware of these risk factors and treating them adequately. Currently, most of the senior citizens in America aged 65 years and above are being hospitalized majorly because of heart failure. In fact, Heidenreich was quick to note that heart failure is indeed a disease for the elderly. And since the current population continues to age, the condition is expected to become even more common with the cost of heart failure treatment burdening the country for the next more than 20 years. This is if at all, nothing will be done to minimize the incidence of age-related heart failure.

Recommendations of reducing heart failure impact

Fortunately, the press release came with some recommendations on possible ways of reducing heart failure impact among the patients. To start with, it was recommended that more effective therapy and use of guided dissemination as a way of improving survival and preventing heart failure. Also, the report advised that there was need to improve coordination of care received at the hospital to the one provided at home as a way of reducing hospitalizations and achieving better results. It was also recommended that there be a reduction in heart failure care and prevention disparities among socioecomic, ethnic and racial subgroups in the country to assist in minimizing the gap that exists in health results. There is also need to increase accessibility to hospice care and palliative for patients suffering from advanced heart failure conditions. This will largely reduce in reducing their suffering during their last years.