Objective: To investigate the relationship between senile degenerative valvular heart disease (SDVHD) and heart failure. Methods:86 cases of SDVHD consisted of 67 males and 19 females, with the mean age of 60 -93(78?9)yr . 86 cases of controls with comparable gender, age and baseline conditions were include in the control group. Morbidity rate of heart failure were compared between the two groups during 12 years follow-up. Heart function was determined by color Doppler ultrasonography. Results:Prevalence of left heart failure and whole heart failure in SDVHD group were 75. 5% and 22. 0% , respectively, significantly higher than the control group ( 16. 2% and 7. 0% , respectively). Ejection fraction ( Ef) in SDVHD group was significantly lower than the control group [ (43?7 ) % vs (71?6)%,P