Clinical associations of anemia in patients with heart failure

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence, clinical associations and outcomes of anemia in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Material and methods

We studied 170 patients with CHF, including 137 males, at the average age of 53.1±12.5 years. Arterial hypertension was present in 56.5% of patients, previous myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation in 28.0% of patients, diabetes mellitus in 58.0% of patients and chronic kidney disease in 13.5% of patients. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin level <13 g/dl for males and <12 g/dl for females.

Results

Anemia was found in 53 (31.2%) patients with CHF. Low hemoglobin level was associated with age 55.5 ≥1,25 мг/дл, уровень мочевины ≥19,7 мг/дл и возyears, comorbidity (chronic kidney disease, diabetes, arterial hypertension), and laboratory parameters (glomerular filtration rate 54.8 ml/min/1.73 m ≤54,8 мл/мин/1,73м 2, serum creatinine 1.25 ≥1,25 мг/дл, уровень мочевины ≥19,7 мг/дл и возmg/dl, urea 19.7 mg/dl). Patients with CHF and anemia had ≥1,25 мг/дл, уровень мочевины ≥19,7 мг/дл и возa higher risk of rehospitalizations within 3 months after discharge compared with patients who did not present with anemia (45% vs 14%, p=0.015).

Conclusion

Anemia developed in a third of patients with CHF, was associated with older age, a higher serum creatinine and urea, a lower glomerular filtration rate and comorbidity (chronic kidney disease, diabetes, arterial hypertension), and increase in the risk of rehospitalizations within 3 months after discharge.