How common is fluid overload?
Good statistics for fluid overload do not exist. But they do exist for the leading cause of fluid overload, congestive heart failure (CHF). Nearly five million Americans are currently diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Approximately 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Congestive heart failure affects people of all ages, from children and young adults to senior citizens. According to the American Heart Association, the condition is more common among the elderly, affecting approximately 10 out of every 1,000 persons over age 65. Medicare data reveals that congestive heart failure is the most common diagnosis among persons over 65 years of age admitted to the hospital. Congestive heart failure diagnoses are increasing eight percent annually, driven largely by the aging American population.
