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Australians urged to look beyond the heart to understand the bigger picture of heart failure

Hearts4heart

• Heart failure affects approximately 500,000 Australians, with around 67,000 new diagnoses each year.¹
• Heart failure rarely exists in isolation and is often linked to connected conditions such as kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and mental health conditions.²˒³
• Nearly half of people with heart failure are also living with chronic kidney disease, which can lead to worse outcomes and more frequent hospitalisations.⁴

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Monday 22 June 2026: Australians are being urged by leading heart charity Hearts4heart to look beyond the heart and better understand the health conditions that can be connected to heart failure.

Heart failure means the heart isn’t pumping as well as it should to meet the body’s needs.⁵ It is a serious and growing condition affecting around half a million Australians, with approximately 67,000 new diagnoses and 158,000 hospital admissions each year.¹

Many people living with heart failure are also managing other connected conditions, such as kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and mental health conditions.²˒³ These conditions can influence one another, worsening health outcomes and making care more complex.²

Kidney disease is one of the most common, serious and under-recognised connected conditions of heart failure. Nearly half of people with heart failure are also living with chronic kidney disease, and when one organ is affected it can place strain on the other.⁴

Chris Forbes, Chief Executive Officer of Kidney Health Australia, said awareness of the heart-kidney connection is essential to improving outcomes.

“Kidney disease can be silent for a long time, and many people may not know they are living with it until it has progressed.

“For people with heart failure, or those at risk of heart failure, understanding kidney health is an important part of the overall picture. Simple checks can help identify kidney disease earlier, and earlier detection gives people a better chance to take action.”

Professor Andrew Sindone, Director of the Heart Failure Unit and Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Concord Hospital and Head of Department of Cardiology at Ryde Hospital, said detecting heart failure and connected conditions early can help people get the right care sooner.

“Heart failure can be difficult to recognise as symptoms can develop gradually, or be mistaken for other conditions. The good news is there are tests and routine checks that can help healthcare professionals identify risk earlier,” said Professor Sindone.

“For people living with connected conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, it is especially important to speak with a GP or healthcare professional about what checks may be appropriate for you. Early detection is an important part of improving patient outcomes and helping to minimise the financial burden associated with managing heart failure.”

Managing heart failure can come with a significant financial burden, with Hearts4heart estimating annual costs may reach up to $18,000, or up to $29,000 for people also living with chronic kidney disease.⁷ The figures are based on a first-of-its-kind patient-focused cost analysis, developed to highlight the broader financial impact of living with heart failure and the importance of earlier detection and coordinated care.

Tanya Hall, CEO and founder of Hearts4heart, is passionate about raising awareness of heart failure, the impact of connected conditions, and the importance of early detection through initiatives like Heart Failure Awareness Week (22 to 28 June 2026).

“The cost of managing heart failure can be significant, which is why early detection is so important. The sooner people understand their risk, the sooner they can access care and support to help manage their health.

“This year, we want Australians to understand that heart failure rarely exists on its own. Conditions like kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure can be closely connected, and when one condition worsens, others can follow,” said Ms Hall.

“That is why early conversations with a GP or healthcare professional are so important. If you are living with kidney disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, now is the time to ask what that could mean for your heart health.”

Common symptoms of heart failure can include breathlessness, fatigue, swelling in the legs, ankles or abdomen, sudden weight gain and difficulty sleeping when lying down.³ Symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly and may be mistaken for other health issues, making early recognition critical.

To access resources and information about heart failure, visit, visit www.hearts4heart.org.au.

-ENDS-

 

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Kerry Jung [email protected] 0435 753 618

Lucy Byrne lucy@palin.com.au 0400 843 389

 

About Hearts4heart

Hearts4heart is a non-profit organisation that supports, educates, and advocates for people with heart disease in Australia and New Zealand. Hearts4heart works to eliminate stroke and preventable deaths and improve the quality of life for patients and caregivers.

Bringing together patients and healthcare professionals to reduce the burden of heart disease, Hearts4heart provides targeted educational programs, resources, and services to improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. To find out more visit www.hearts4heart.org.au

About Kidney Health Australia  

Kidney Health Australia is Australians’ voice for kidney disease, fighting for increased awareness, early detection, and better treatment of this incurable disease. A non-profit that is advocating for urgent change and more focused research while being a life-long support for people living with kidney disease at every stage of their journey. 

About the heart failure and connected conditions cost table 

The cost table was developed as a guide to help illustrate the potential out-of-pocket, personal and household costs that may be associated with living with heart failure, including for people also managing connected conditions.

The estimates were developed using a combination of publicly available Australian health cost information, source-informed calculations and transparent modelling assumptions. Where direct annual cost data was not available, estimates were informed by comparable sources, stakeholder input or modelled scenarios.

 

The figures are intended as a guide only. Actual costs will vary from person to person depending on circumstances. The table is not intended to replace medical, financial or health system advice, but to help highlight the broader real-world impact of heart failure and connected conditions, and the importance of earlier detection, coordinated care and ongoing management.

 

 

References

 

1. Chen, L, et al. (2017). Snapshot of Heart Failure in Australia. Available at: https://www.acu.edu.au/-/media/feature/pagecontent/richtext/about-acu/news-and-events/heart-failure-burden-report.pdf

1. Global Heart Hub. Heart Failure Awareness 2026. Available at: https://globalhearthub.org/heart-failure-awareness-2026/
2. Malik A, et al. (2023). Congestive Heart Failure. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430873/
3. Kolling Institute. (n.d.). Crucial new funds to help improve heart and kidney disease treatment. Available at: https://kollinginstitute.org.au/crucial-new-funds-to-help-improve-heart-and-kidney-disease-treatment
4. Global Heart Hub. (2023). Your guide to your journey: heart failure. Available at: https://globalhearthub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GHH-HF-PatientGuide.pdf
5. Kidney Health Australia. (n.d.). How to ask for a Kidney Health Check. Available at: https://kidney.org.au/resources/how-to-ask-for-kidney-health-check
6. Hearts4heart. (2026). Heart Failure Awareness Week 2026 cost burden model. Data on file.