The annual number of patients with heart failure have risen dramatically. In 1970, there were only 250,000 cases but today, nearly 5 million Americans suffer from heart failure and about 550,000 new cases of heart failure are diagnosed each year. Such numbers indicate an increasingly older population. Heart failure is most common in people over age 65, African-Americans, and women. Although there has been a dramatic increase in heart failure patients, survival rates have also improved greatly.
High blood pressure and coronary artery disease are the main causes of heart failure. Other diseases which damage or weaken the heart muscle or heart valves can also lead to heart failure. The risk factors for heart failure include:
· Advancing Age
· Gender
· Ethnicity
· Family History and Genetics
· Diabetes
· Obesity
· Thyroid Problems
Advancing Age
Elder people have highest risk of heart failure and as the population ages, the incidence of heart failure is rising dramatically. According to a study, 10 in 1,000 people after age 65 have heart failure. The positive aspect is, however, that people are living longer despite heart failure.
Gender
Men have higher risk for heart failure than women. However, this difference narrows with age. Also, if heart failure is caused by valvular heart disease, high blood pressure, or alcohol abuse, women have a better survival rate than men do. This is possibly due to the fact that men may be more susceptible to remodeling process of heart muscle-cell, which is a damaging effect of hypertension.
When heart failure evolves from coronary artery disease or heart attack, tThe survival rates of women and men are more similar. Also, after a heart attack, women are much more likely to develop heart failure than men. The reasons for this  include less aggressive approaches to treatment for the initial heart conditions.
Ethnicity
Ethnicity is also a risk factor for heart failure. African-Americans may be at higher risk for heart failure than Caucasians. Diastolic heart failure, where heart muscle fail to relax normally,  is more likely in African-Americans than in Caucasians. Caucasians tend to develop systolic heart failure first.
Family History and Genetics
The risk of developing heart failure in people whose parents had heart failure is higher,  particularly left-ventricular systolic heart failure. A family history of cardiomyopathies may also lead to heart failure. Research on identifying the changes in specific genes that might regulate systems involved in heart failure is on-going which may help in increasing in susceptibility in certain populations.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are at high risk for heart failure. If they also have coronary artery disease, risk is further high. Even blood sugar abnormalities also increase the risk.
Obesity
Obesity is a major risk factor for heart failure, particularly in women. Also, obesity is associated with both hypertension and type 2 diabetes. These conditions lead to heart failure.
Thyroid Problems
Risk for heart failure may be increased with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) or underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).