Heart failure: one million patients and record number of admissions
Fnomceo and scientific societies together to limit clinical and social impact: a position statement identifies current limits and regional disparities
Key points
Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalisation in Italy, with almost 200,000 admissions per year, and is considered a social disease due to its enormous clinical, social and economic impact, especially on the elderly, reducing the quality of life and generating high healthcare costs due to increased longevity and prevalence of comorbidities.
Numerous and repeated hospital admissions
By the beginning of 2026, it is estimated that more than 1 million people in Italy are living with this disease. The disease also severely limits daily autonomy. Patients in NYHA class 3 (moderate-to-severe decompensation) can achieve a recognised degree of disability of between 71% and 80%. The social nature of the disease is also linked to lifestyles and related conditions such as high blood pressure, previous myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
A major problem is readmissions to hospital within 6 months of a decompensation hospitalisation. The scientific literature (Themistocles Study) shows that almost half (45%) of those discharged return to hospital for a new episode of decompensation. This explains why most heart failure management protocols are aimed at reducing early re-hospitalisations after a hospital admission.
Possible medical interventions
The health and medical interventions envisaged are multiple. The first is the introduction of a simplified treatment plan limited to the first prescription, with subsequent automated renewal, with the aim of facilitating and equalising access to drugs throughout the territory, which can really make a difference, reducing mortality and hospitalisations with savings, including economic savings for the National Health Service and society as a whole. It also frees up time for doctors' clinical activities and reduces waiting lists.
Next, the national standardisation of prescriptive criteria and the professionals authorised to draw up treatment plans. Also, the systematic and transparent return of the data collected in the AIFA registers to the scientific community for clinical, epidemiological and decision-making purposes. Finally, the elimination of the therapeutic plan for drugs with a favourable cost-effectiveness profile and extensive clinical experience.
