Infection in people with heart failure: an overlooked cause of adverse outcomes

Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in people with heart failure, accounting for approximately 25% of hospitalisations and deaths. Infection hospitalisations in people with heart failure last twice as long as other hospitalisations, with mortality rates after discharge being comparable to those seen after acute decompensated heart failure. Addressing this major challenge is essential to further improving the survival and quality of life of this population. However, very few studies have sought to understand why people with heart failure are predisposed to adverse infection outcomes and there are currently very few interventions that target this problem. In this review, we explore the underlying factors that may predispose individuals with heart failure to infection, highlight the impact of infections on outcomes, explore the potential strategies that may reduce adverse infection outcomes, and highlight future research priorities.