Heart Failure

What Increases Your Risk

Heart failure is generally the result of another disease, often coronary artery disease. Anything that increases your risk for developing that underlying disease is a risk factor for heart failure. This includes:

• Risk factors for coronary artery disease and heart attack.
• Risk factors for high blood pressure.
• Risk factors for heart valve disease.
• Risk factors for diabetes (because diabetes can increase the risk of coronary artery disease and also can cause a condition called diabetic cardiomyopathy).

People with rheumatoid arthritis may have a higher risk of getting heart failure.³

More information More on risk factors for heart failure

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: August 25, 2008
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology
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