U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 231 ■ December 2015

Recent Trends in Heart Failure-related Mortality: 

United States, 2000–2014

Hanyu Ni, Ph.D.; and Jiaquan Xu, M.D.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Vital Statistics System, 

Mortality

● The age-adjusted rate for

heart failure-related deaths 

decreased from 2000 through 

2012 but increased from 2012 

through 2014. 

● The death rate for heart

failure was higher for the 

non-Hispanic black population 

than for the non-Hispanic white 

and Hispanic populations.

● The death rate was higher for

men than for women in all age 

groups. The gap in the death 

rate for adults aged 45–64 and 

85 and over increased over 

time. 

● The percentage of heart

failure-related deaths that 

occurred in a hospital decreased 

from 2000 through 2014.

● The percentage of heart

failure-related deaths for adults 

aged 45 and over with coronary 

heart disease as the underlying 

cause of death decreased 32%, 

from 34.9% in 2000 to 23.9% 

in 2014.

Heart failure is a major public health problem associated with significant 

hospital admission rates, mortality, and costly health care expenditures, despite 

advances in the treatment and management of heart failure and heart failurerelated risk factors (1–4). Using data from the multiple cause of death files, 

this report describes the trends in heart failure-related mortality from 2000 

through 2014 for the U.S. population, by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, 

and place of death. Heart failure-related deaths were identified as those with 

heart failure reported anywhere on the death certificate, either as an underlying 

or contributing cause of death. Changes in the underlying causes of heart 

failure-related deaths are also described in this report.

Keywords: mortality • heart failure • trend • National Vital Statistics System

The age-adjusted rates for heart failure-related deaths 

declined from 2000 through 2012 but increased from 2012 

through 2014.

Figure 1. Number of and crude and age-adjusted rates for heart failure-related deaths: 

United States, 2000–2014

1Declining trends in the number of and crude rates for heart failure-related deaths from 2000 through 2009 were statistically 

significant (p < 0.05) and their increases from 2009 through 2014 were also significant (p < 0.05).

2Declining trend in the age-adjusted rate for heart failure-related deaths from 2000 through 2012 was statistically 

significant (p < 0.05). 

3

Increase in the age-adjusted rate from 2012 through 2014 was significant (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Heart failure-related deaths are those with heart failure (ICD–10 code I50) reported anywhere on the death certificate 

(i.e., as an underlying or contributing cause of death). Access data table for Figure 1 at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db231_tables.pdf#1. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System mortality data, 2000–2014 

 
 NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 231 ■ December 2015

■ 2  ■

● The crude rate for heart failure-related deaths decreased from 103.1 deaths per 100,000

population in 2000 to 89.5 in 2009. The rate then increased to 96.9 in 2014 (Figure 1).

● The age-adjusted rate for heart failure-related deaths decreased from 105.4 deaths per

100,000 standard population in 2000 to 81.4 in 2012. The rate then increased to 83.4 in 2013

and to 84.0 in 2014.

● The number of heart failure-related deaths declined from 2000 through 2009, but then

increased steadily through 2014.

The age-adjusted rate for heart failure-related deaths was higher for 

the non-Hispanic black population than for the non-Hispanic white and 

Hispanic populations. 

● The age-adjusted rate for heart failure-related deaths was higher for the non-Hispanic black

population than for the non-Hispanic white and Hispanic populations from 2000 through

2014 (Figure 2). The death rate was 91.5 deaths per 100,000 standard population for the

non-Hispanic black population, 87.3 for the non-Hispanic white population, and 53.3 for the

Hispanic population in 2014.

 

Figure 2. Age-adjusted rate for heart failure-related deaths, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2000–2014

1Age-adjusted rate of heart failure-related deaths declined significantly from 2000 through 2012 and then increased from 2012 through 2014 for the overall 

population and for the non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black populations (p < 0.05).

2Age-adjusted death rate was significantly higher for the non-Hispanic black population than for the non-Hispanic white and Hispanic populations (p < 0.05). 

3Declining trend in the age-adjusted rate of heart failure-related deaths for the Hispanic population from 2000 through 2014 was statistically significant 

(p < 0.05).

NOTES: Heart failure-related deaths are those with heart failure (ICD–10 code I50) reported anywhere on the death certificate (i.e., as an underlying or 

contributing cause of death). Access data table for Figure 2 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db231_tables.pdf#2. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System mortality data, 2000–2014. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 231 ■ December 2015

■ 3  ■

● The age-adjusted death rate decreased 20% for the non-Hispanic black population and 22%

for the non-Hispanic white population from 2000 through 2012, and then increased 4% for

each population from 2012 through 2014.

● The age-adjusted death rate decreased 27% for the Hispanic population from 2000 through

2014. 

Heart failure-related death rates declined for all selected age and sex 

groups from 2000 through 2012 but increased from 2012 through 2014.

● Heart failure-related death rates declined from 2000 through 2012 for all age groups (45–64,

65–74, 75–84, and 85 and over) and for both men and women (Figure 3). The death rate

increased for all age and sex subgroups from 2012 through 2014.

● The death rate was higher for men than for women in all age and sex subgroups. For adults

aged 45–64 and 85 and over, the gap in the death rate between men and women increased

over time.

● In 2014, the death rate was highest for adults aged 85 and over (2,842.9 deaths per 100,000

population for men and 2,333.5 for women), followed by adults aged 75–84 (720.0 for men

and 504.7 for women), adults aged 65–74 (201.8 for men and 124.6 for women), and adults

aged 45–64 (41.3 for men and 24.0 for women).

 

Figure 3. Death rate for heart failure, by sex and selected age group: United States, 2000–2014

1Declining trends in the heart failure-related death rate from 2000 through 2012, and the increases from 2012 through 2014, were statistically significant for all sex 

and selected age subgroups (p < 0.05). 

2Differences by sex and age group were statistically significant throughout the study period (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Heart failure-related deaths are those with heart failure (ICD–10 code I50) reported anywhere on the death certificate (i.e., as an underlying or 

contributing cause of death). Access data table for Figure 3 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db231_tables.pdf#3.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System mortality data, 2000–2014. 
 NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 231 ■ December 2015

■ 4  ■

The percentage of heart failure-related deaths occurring in a hospital 

decreased from 2000 through 2014.

● The percentage of heart failure-related deaths that occurred in a hospital decreased 30%,

from 42.6% in 2000 to 30.0% in 2014 (Figure 4).

● The percentage of heart failure-related deaths that occurred at a descendant’s home

increased 51%, from 18.3% in 2000 to 27.6% in 2014.

● The percentage of heart failure-related deaths that occurred in nursing homes or long-term

care facilities decreased 11%, from 30.1% in 2000 to 26.7% in 2014.

● The percentage of heart failure-related deaths that occurred in other places (such as an

outpatient clinic or hospice facility) increased 74%, from 9.0% in 2000 to 15.7% in 2014.

 

Figure 4. Percent distribution of place of death from heart failure: United States, 2000–2014

1

Increases in the percentage of deaths that occurred at home and other places were statistically significant (p < 0.05). 

2Percentages of heart failure-related deaths that occurred in a hospital, nursing home, and long-term care facilities declined significantly (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: Heart failure-related deaths were identified as those with heart failure (ICD–10 code I50) reported anywhere on the death certificate (i.e., as an 

underlying or contributing cause of death). Access data table for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db231_tables.pdf#4. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System mortality data, 2000–2014. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 231 ■ December 2015

■ 5  ■

Non-cardiovascular disease was the underlying cause of death for more 

than one-third of heart failure-related deaths of adults aged 45 and over in 

2014. 

● Coronary heart disease (CHD) was the underlying cause of death for 34.9% of heart failurerelated deaths of adults aged 45 and over in 2000. Other cardiovascular diseases accounted

for 35.6% and non-cardiovascular diseases for 29.4% (Figure 5).

● CHD was the underlying cause of death for 23.9% of heart failure-related deaths of adults

aged 45 and over in 2014. Other cardiovascular diseases accounted for 41.2% and noncardiovascular diseases for 34.9%.

● The percentage of heart failure-related deaths with CHD as the underlying cause of death

decreased 32%, from 34.9% in 2000 to 23.9% in 2014.

 

Figure 5. Percentage of underlying causes of heart failure-related deaths for adults aged 45 and over: 

United States, 2000 and 2014

1

Differences in the percentage of each underlying cause of death between 2000 and 2014 were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Heart failure-related deaths are those with heart failure (ICD–10 code I50) reported anywhere on the death certificate (i.e., as an underlying or 

contributing cause of death). Deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) were identified using underlying cause of death codes (I20–I25). Deaths from other 

cardiovascular diseases included all deaths from major cardiovascular diseases (I00–I78) after excluding deaths from CHD. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System mortality data, 2000–2014. 

 
 NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 231 ■ December 2015

■  6  ■

Summary

This report provides the most recent trends in heart failure-related mortality by age, sex, race and 

Hispanic origin, and place of death for the U.S. population. The analysis revealed a decline in 

age-adjusted death rates for heart failure for all selected race and ethnic groups as well as for age 

and sex subgroups from 2000 through 2012. An increase in the death rate, however, was observed 

from 2012 through 2014 for the overall population, for selected age and sex groups, and for the 

non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white populations. The age-adjusted rate for heart failurerelated deaths was higher for the non-Hispanic black population than for the non-Hispanic white 

and Hispanic populations from 2000 through 2014.

The underlying cause of heart failure-related deaths for adults aged 45 and over was less likely 

to be CHD, but more likely to be other cardiovascular diseases and non-cardiovascular diseases 

(such as cancer, diabetes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and kidney disease) in 2014 

compared with 2000. This shift in the distribution of the causes of death toward less ischemic 

heart disease is consistent with the results of a community-based study on heart failure (5). This 

finding is important for heart failure management approaches.

The results of this study also revealed a decrease in the percentage of heart failure-related deaths 

occurring in hospitals, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities. An increase was seen in 

the percentage of deaths at home and in other places. This shift in place of death was observed for 

heart disease and other causes of death from 1980 through 1998 (6). Place of death is an indicator 

of the state of end-of-life care, indicating where the patient was receiving care at the very end of 

life. 

Definitions

Cause-of-death classification: Medical information, including injury diagnoses and external 

causes of injury entered on death certificates filed in the United States, classified and coded 

in accordance with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health 

Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD–10) (7).

Underlying causes of death: Defined by the World Health Organization as “the disease or injury 

which initiated the train of events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident 

or violence which produce the fatal injury” (7).

Multiple cause of death: Includes not only the underlying cause but also the immediate cause of 

death and all other intermediate and contributory conditions reported by the certifying physicians.

Heart failure-related death: All death records with heart failure reported on the death certificate 

(any mention of heart failure), either as an underlying or a contributing cause. The deaths were 

identified in the multiple cause of death files as those with ICD–10 code I50 in the record axis 

fields.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 231 ■ December 2015

■  7  ■

Data source and methods

This report analyzed the multiple cause-of-death mortality files from the National Vital Statistics 

System from 2000 through 2014. The direct standardization method was used to calculate ageadjusted death rates, based on the projected year 2000 standard population, using age groups with 

10-year intervals. Terms such as “higher than” or “lower than” indicate that the estimates being 

compared are statistically significant. Trends in death rates were evaluated using the Joinpoint 

Regression Program (8). The comparisons of rates and percentages are based on the two-tailed 

z test at the 0.05 level. 

About the authors

Hanyu Ni and Jiaquan Xu are with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Vital 

Statistics.

References

1. Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, Benjamin EJ, Berry JD, Borden WB, et al. Heart disease 

and stroke statistics—2013 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 

127:e6–e245. 2013.

2. Heidenreich PA, Trogdon JG, Khavjou OA, Butler J, Dracup E, Ezekowitz MD, et al. 

Forcasting the future of cardiovascular disease in the United States: A policy statement from the 

American Heart Association. Circulation 123(8):933–44. 2011.

3. Roger VL. Epidemiology of heart failure. Circ Res 113:646–59. 2013.

4. Braunwald E. Heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol HF;1(1):1–20. 2013. 

5. Henkel DM, Redfield MM, Weston SA, Gerber Y, Roger VL. Death in heart failure: A 

community perspective. Circ Heart Fail 1(2):91–7. 2008.

6. Flory J, Yinong YX, Gurol I, Levinsky N, Ash A, Emmanuel E. Place of death: U.S. trends 

since 1980. Health Aff (Millwood) 23(3):194–200. 2004.

7. WHO. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, tenth 

revision (ICD–10). 2008 ed. Geneva, Switzerland. 2009.

8. National Cancer Institute. Joinpoint Regression Program (Version 4.1.1.) [computer 

software]. 2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 231 ■ December 2015

FIRST CLASS MAIL 

POSTAGE & FEES PAID 

CDC/NCHS

PERMIT NO. G-284

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Road, Room 5419

Hyattsville, MD 20782–2064

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

For more NCHS Data Briefs, visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs.htm.

Suggested citation

Ni H, Xu JQ. Recent trends in heart failurerelated mortality: United States, 2000–2014. 

NCHS data brief, no 231. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Delton Atkinson, M.P.H., M.P.H., P.M.P., 

Director

Hanyu Ni, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate 

Director for Science

For e-mail updates on NCHS publication 

releases, subscribe online at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/govdelivery.htm.

For questions or general information

about NCHS:

Tel: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636)

TTY: 1–888–232–6348

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

Online request form: http://www.cdc.gov/

cdc-info/

ISSN 1941–4927 Print ed.

ISSN 1941–4935 Online ed.

DHHS Publication No. 2016–1209

CS261742