Heart failure in Norway, 2000–2014: analysing incident, total and readmission rates using data from the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway (CVDNOR) Project

Aims To examine trends in heart failure (HF) hospitalization rates and risk of readmissions following an incident HF hospitalization. Methods and results During 2000–2014, we identified in the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway Project 142 109 hospitalizations with HF as primary diagnosis. Trends of incident and total (incident and recurrent) HF hospitalization rates were analysed using negative binomial regression models. Changes over time in 30‐day and 3‐year risk of HF recurrences or cardiovascular disease (CVD)‐related readmissions were analysed using Fine and Grey competing risk regression, with death as competing events. Age‐standardized rates declined on average 1.9% per year in men and 1.8% per year in women for incident HF hospitalizations (both Ptrend