Risk Factors
The risk factors that contribute to the development of heart failure are similar to
risks of coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. In fact,
coronary artery disease and previous history of myocardial infarction (heart
attack) is one of the major risk factors in developing HF. Based on the data from
the Framingham study, which commenced in the United States back in 1949,
hypertension (high blood pressure) is the most important risk factor accounting
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for approximately 39% of cases in men and 59% in women. Previous history of
heart attack was the second most common risk accounting for 34% in men and
13% in women [9]. Cigarette smoking, elevated cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes
are the major preventable risk factors for both congestive heart failure and
coronary artery disease. Other less common diseases and risk factors are
valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy (the diseases of the heart muscle),
alcohol abuse, or infections.