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Anaemia and the heart: what's new in 2003?

Robert N Foley1

  • 1Nephrology Analytical Services, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404, USA. rfoley@nephrology.org

Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation : Official Publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association
|November 11, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Anaemia is common in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease, negatively impacting quality of life and increasing mortality risk. Treating anaemia, particularly by normalizing hemoglobin levels, shows promise in improving exercise capacity and cardiac outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology and Cardiology
  • Hematology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Anaemia is a recognized complication in renal disease, impacting patient quality of life and cardiac health.
  • Recent studies highlight anaemia's prevalence in non-renal populations, including healthy adults and those with congestive heart failure (CHF).
  • The association between anaemia severity and CHF severity is well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review anaemia-related outcome studies published after 2001.
  • To examine the impact of anaemia on cardiovascular disease development and progression.
  • To assess the role of anaemia in chronic disease, particularly in renal patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of observational studies, community cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies published after 2001.
  • Analysis of a placebo-controlled, randomized trial investigating hemoglobin normalization in anemic CHF patients.
  • Examination of renal guidelines regarding hemoglobin targets.

Main Results:

  • Anaemia affects approximately 10% of 'healthy' adults and is common in CHF patients, correlating with disease severity.
  • Anaemia is independently associated with increased mortality rates in CHF patients.
  • Normalization of hemoglobin levels in anemic CHF patients improved exercise performance and oxygen uptake.

Conclusions:

  • Anaemia is not an 'innocent bystander' in chronic disease and requires attention.
  • Further large clinical trials are needed to establish the full potential of anaemia therapy in CHF.
  • Current renal guidelines for hemoglobin targets are primarily based on data from hemodialysis populations.

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