Economics of chronic heart failure

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is now recognized as a major and escalating pub lic health problem. The costs of this syndrome, both in economic and person al terms, are considerable. The prevalence of CHF is 1-2% and appears to be increasing, in part because of ageing of the population. Economic analyses of CHF should include both direct and indirect costs of care. Healthcare e xpenditure on CHF in developed countries consumes 1-2% of the total health care budget. The cost of hospitalization represents the greatest proportion of total expenditure. Optimization of drug therapy represents the most eff ective way of reducing costs. Recent economic analyses in the Netherlands a nd Sweden suggest the costs of care are rising. (C) 2001 European Society o f Cardiology. All rights reserved.