Heart failure (HF), as a severe or terminal stage of various heart diseases, is one of the most important cardiovascular diseases. Exercise tolerance is often decreased in HF patients, and it is not only related to failing cardiomyocytes, but also associated with changes in skeletal muscle cells. These skeletal muscle changes, including decreased muscle mass and reduced muscle function, are defined as sarcopenia. The disease is of high morbidity in the elderly, and can cause falling, frailty and other adverse events. Its occurrence, development and deterioration are consistent with the development and progression of the symptoms in the patients with HF. This paper elaborated the research progress of HF combined with sarcopenia, including the mechanism, screening and diagnosis methods, as well as new treatments.