HF-Related Mortality Rates

Key Points

  • HF mortality rates have been increasing since 2012.
  • HF was a contributing cause in 415,922 deaths in the US in 2020.
  • There is significant underestimation of HF-related mortality from national data derived from death certificates.
  • HF is associated with a loss of 15 years of median survival for adults aged 65–90 years of age compared with the general US population.
  • Age-adjusted HF mortality rates are highest for non-Hispanic Black individuals. Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native individuals with HF have the highest all-cause age-adjusted mortality compared with other racial and ethnic groups. From 2010 to 2020, HF mortality rates have increased for Black women and men at a rate faster than any other racial or ethnic group, particularly for individuals below the age of 65.
  • Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) for HF have increased in the last decade with similar patterns of increase in women and men.
  • A greater relative annual increase in HF-related mortality rates has been noted for younger (35–64 years) compared with older (65–84 years) adults.
  • Rural areas demonstrate higher HF mortality rates for both younger and older age groups compared with urban areas.