COPD-associated heart failure cases exceeded 3.61 million in 2021, representing a 1.4-fold increase since 1990, with projections showing a 56-58% rise in age-standardized prevalence rates by 2050 due to population growth, aging, and socioeconomic factors.
- COPD-associated heart failure cases reached 3.61 million in 2021, up 1.4-fold from 1990
- Males bear a greater burden than females, with both genders showing steady increases from 1990 to 2021
- Age-standardized prevalence rates projected to rise 56.77% for males and 58.73% for females by 2050
- East Asia has the highest incidence and disability rates, while Oceania has the lowest
- Population growth, aging populations, and socioeconomic conditions are key drivers requiring integrated prevention and management strategies
The global burden of COPD-associated heart failure is on the rise and is expected to continue that trajectory in the coming years.
That’s according to the paper, “Global, Regional and National Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-Associated Heart Failure: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study From 1990 to 2021 With Projections up to 2050.” The paper was published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Using data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study, the researchers assessed prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD) among those with COPD-associated heart failure. In 2021, COPD-associated heart failure cases exceeded 3.61 million, a 1.4-fold increase since 1990.
The number of common cases and YLDs for males and females increased gradually between 1990 and 2021, with males bearing a greater burden of COPD-associated heart failure than females.
There were some differences in the burden of COPD-associated heart failure among 21 geographical regions included in the study. Oceania had the lowest incidence, while East Asia had the highest. Similarly, the lowest and highest YLD rates were found in Oceania and East Asia, respectively. Western Europe saw the most increases in YLD rates and prevalence between 1990 and 2021, while Eastern Europe had the biggest drops.
As for individual nations, China had the highest absolute number of prevalent cases of COPD-associated heart failure out of 204 countries and territories. On the other end of the spectrum, Tokelau, a dependent territory of New Zealand in the Southern Pacific Ocean, had the lowest. The researchers cautioned, however, that because absolute case numbers are strongly influenced by population size, those rankings should not be interpreted as reflecting underlying risk or per-capita burden.
When age-standardized rates were used, Papua New Guinea had the highest age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), while Uzbekistan had the lowest.
Looking toward the future, the researchers projected that, for both males and females, the worldwide ASPR for COPD-associated heart failure would rise between 2022 and 2050. The rate for males was projected to rise from 53.04 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 83.15 per 100,000 in 2050 (a 56.77% increase). For women, it was projected to rise from 36.15 in 2022 to 57.38 in 2050 (a 58.73% increase).
The researchers said the burden of COPD-associated heart failure is shaped by several factors including population growth, aging populations and socioeconomic conditions.
“Projections based on established modeling techniques suggest this burden will continue to rise persistently over the coming decades,” they wrote. “Addressing this growing challenge demands enhanced international collaboration and the implementation of integrated prevention and management strategies to improve patient outcomes.”
Future research, they added, should prioritize investigating the underlying mechanisms driving these trends and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.
