PREVALENCE OF IRON DEFICIENCY AND ANEMIA IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) are important and common comorbidities that often coexist in patients with heart failure (HF). Both conditions, together or independently, are associated with poor clinical status and worse outcomes. The aim of our research was to study prevalence and clinical impact of ID and anemia in HF patients attending cardiology department of our hospital. We studied 133 patients with HF who have been admitted to hospital since September 2019: 78 (58.6%) patient had ID, 55 (42.4%) with HF and without ID were included in the control group. Patient baseline assessment included a standardized HF history regarding HF etiology (classified as ischemic or non-ischemic) and co-morbidities. All patients underwent a standardized clinical evaluation, including physical examination, determination of NYHA class. Blood samples were drawn for the assessment of a full blood count and clinical chemistry, including iron and serum ferritin and kidney function (creatinine). Assessment of exercise capacity was performed by a 6-min walk test. ID was present in 78(58.6%) patients. 70(52.6%) patients from 133 presented with anemia. Most patients in both groups are men, patients with ID were elderly, in both groups, most patients had arterial hypertension, more patients with ID had diabetes mellitus, HF etiology was predominantly ischemic in both groups, most patients were with NYHA class III, patients with ID had significantly low LVEF. No differences were recorded for body weight, diastolic blood pressure, platelets, eGFR or serum creatinine, no such differences were found regarding hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There was a highly significant association between hemoglobin and serum ferritin in patients with ID, but in patients without ID, this association was only of borderline significance. The presence of anemia, ID, or both was associated with significantly higher NYHA class. We found that gender, NYHA class, LVEF, the presence of anemia, eGFR all predicted lower exercise capacity.