Disparities and drivers of early age at diagnosis of congestive heart failure in the USA

Abstract

Aim: Heart failure (HF) constitutes a major public health problem in the USA due to its high morbidity and mortality. Age at diagnosis of HF would refine burden quantification, budgeting, disease surveillance and assessment of interventions. We set out to determine the median age at diagnosis of HF and drivers of young age at diagnosis among patients 20 years or older in the USA.

Methods and results: We utilized NHANES data collected across five survey cycles (2007-2016). Included were individuals aged 20 to 80 years diagnosed of HF with valid entries for age at diagnosis. Differences in age at diagnosis between groups and major drivers for younger age at diagnosis were assessed using linear regression models with p-values <0.05 considered statistically significant. The prevalence of HF in the USA was 2.44% with a median age at diagnosis of 59 years (IQR 47-70). Non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks -4.94 years (95% CI -7.95 to -1.93), individuals living below the poverty line -5.79 years (95% CI -10.36 to -1.01), obese persons -5.63 years (95% CI -8.35 to -2.92), individuals without health insurance -4.31 years (95% CI -7.87 to -0.75) and those without hypertension -3.99 years (95% CI -7.19 to -0.78) were diagnosed at significantly younger ages than their respective counterparts.

Conclusion: The median age at diagnosis of HF in the USA is 59 years. NH Blacks, living in poverty, lack of health insurance and obesity are the main drivers of early age at diagnosis of HF in the USA.

Keywords: Age; Disparities; Heart failure; USA.