Who Gets Congestive Heart Failure?
Congestive heart failure is the most common reason for hospitalization among the elderly. More than three million Americans have congestive heart failure, and as the population ages the incidence of congestive heart failure is rising rapidly. A few general trends are: Men are at higher risk than women (although the difference narrows with age). People of African descent are at higher risk and are more likely to die from congestive heart failure than Caucasians. A family history of early congestive heart failure caused by cardiomyopathies may predispose people to the disease.
