Heart Failure in Minorities

The rapidly growing prevalence in heart failure (HF) worldwide is one of the most important epidemiologic problems in cardiovascular medicine. Particularly given the high morbidity and mortality attributed to HF. Though cardiology literature on differences in HF among minority populations is growing, large scale studies among African Americans (AA) and Hispanic Americans (HA) remain relatively sparse. The distribution and determinants of HF subtypes, the contribution of key risk factors and the list of common comorbidities that tend to play a role in the physiology and management of disease differ somewhat from non-Hispanic whites and should be considered when addressing racial disparities in HF in the United States and abroad. Understanding more completely the HF phenotype in minority populations and novel research in these groups that includes investigating genetic predisposition and blood biomarkers may lead to new therapeutic avenues to better manage this increasing public health problem. In this review we discuss the epidemiology, risk factor profile, comorbidities and genetic predispositions contributing to the manifestation of HF in AA and HA.