Impact analysis of heart failure across European countries: an ESC-HFA position paper

Heart failure (HF) is a long-term clinical syndrome, with increasing prevalence and considerable healthcare costs that are fur- ther expected to increase dramatically. Despite significant advances in therapy and prevention, mortality and morbidity re- main high and quality of life poor. Epidemiological data, that is, prevalence, incidence, mortality, and morbidity, show geo- graphical variations across the European countries, depending on differences in aetiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment. However, data on the prevalence of the disease are scarce, as are those on quality of life. For these reasons, the ESC-HFA has developed a position paper to comprehensively assess our understanding of the burden of HF in Europe, in order to guide future policies for this syndrome. This manuscript will discuss the available epidemiological data on HF prev- alence, outcomes, and human costs—in terms of quality of life—in European countries.