Iron Supplementation Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Iron deficiency is a common comorbidity in patients diagnosed with heart failure.
• Systolic heart failure patients with iron deficiency often experience reduced quality of life and increased hospitalizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of iron supplementation in patients suffering from systolic heart failure and concurrent iron deficiency.
• To assess the impact of iron therapy on heart failure-related hospitalizations, cardiac function, and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• A systematic meta-analysis was conducted, including 10 randomized controlled trials.
• Data from 1404 heart failure patients receiving either iron supplementation or placebo were analyzed.
• Statistical analysis involved calculating odds ratios (OR) and weighted mean differences (WMD) using fixed- or random-effects models.

Main Results:

• Iron supplementation significantly reduced hospitalizations for worsening heart failure (OR 0.39) and the combined endpoint of death or heart failure hospitalization (OR 0.47).
• Improvements were observed in New York Heart Association class, 6-minute walk distance, left ventricular ejection fraction, and peak oxygen consumption.
• Quality of life scores and serum levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly improved with iron therapy.

Conclusions:

• Iron therapy is effective in reducing heart failure hospitalizations and improving cardiac function in patients with iron deficiency.
• Treatment with iron enhances the quality of life and decreases key biomarkers like NT-proBNP and CRP in heart failure patients.
• Iron supplementation represents a valuable therapeutic option for managing heart failure in iron-deficient individuals.