aged 65 years or older.2 Other nega

aged 65 years or older.2 Other negative outcomes associated
with heart failure include a poor quality of life,
frequent hospitalizations, medication side effects, and
an increase in morbidity and mortality. The mortality
rate associated with heart failure may be underestimated,
but it is approximately 50% at 2 years and 70% at
3 years.4 However, over the past 50 years survival after
the onset of heart failure has improved, probably due
to more effective treatment of hypertension, coronary
heart disease, and valvular disease and increasing use
of pharmacologic therapies.5