In this population study aim is to evaluate risk factors for heart failure and combine these into a new heart failure risk score.

Secondly, the heart failure risk score will be internally and externally validated, and compared with established heart failure risk scores. Additionally, the prevalence of heart failure as well as the distribution of the heart failure risk score in the general population will be evaluated.

Explore which clinical risk factors or patient characteristics in a general population that are associated with increased risk for heart failure events and combine these into a new population-based heart failure risk score ("The HUNT for heart failure risk score") for predicting heart failure risk

Validate the newly developed heart failure risk score internally in the HUNT2 database

Compare the predictive ability of the new heart failure risk score with established heart failure risk scores (the ABC Health HF risk score, the Framingham HF risk score) and an established Norwegian cardiovascular risk score (NORRISK 2)

Estimate the prevalence of likely ("undiagnosed") heart failure , i.e., patients at high risk of HF, in a general population by using both the established heart failure risk scores and the newly developed heart failure risk score, and compare the heart failure event rate between those at high risk of heart failure and those with established heart failure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participation in the third or second wave of the HUNT study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not willing to participate
• Missing vital data

General population

Will follow the institutional regulations