Sarcopenia is a common complication of elderly patients with chronic heart failure and one of the most important risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients. Research studies in recent years indicate that malnutrition, physical inactivity, low muscle blood flow, inflammation, hormonal changes, ubiquitin proteasome system, autophagy, apoptosis and oxidative stress play roles in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia induced by chronic heart failure, and exercise therapy is the effective treatment way. The research progress of these fields was reviewed in this paper, hoping to provide reference experience for clinical medical workers.