Anemia in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review of Prevalence and Prognostic Impact

This systematic review explores the potential association between anemia and heart failure (HF) by synthesizing findings from existing scholarly literature. A thorough search strategy was employed across four major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect) to identify relevant studies. A total of eight studies, encompassing 2,452 participants, were included in the review, of whom 1,230 (50.2%) were men. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) emerged as the most frequently reported type, although two studies also identified cases of megaloblastic anemia. The prevalence of anemia among individuals with HF varied between 35% and 70%, with an overall prevalence of 1,358 (55.4%) cases. The most commonly observed comorbid conditions included hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients with anemia exhibited a markedly increased risk of mortality compared to non-anemic counterparts. Rather than serving as an independent predictor of mortality, anemia appeared to reflect the severity of heart failure. Statistically significant associations were observed between anemia and elevated serum creatinine levels, left ventricular hypertrophy, and left atrial enlargement. Based on the collective evidence, anemia plays a crucial role in the prognosis of HF, potentially serving as a meaningful indicator of both short- and long-term mortality risk and overall HF-related adverse events. Continued research in this area is essential to inform future clinical decision-making and therapeutic strategies.