Type of publication:
Conference abstract
Author(s):
*Chatrath N.; *Kundu S.; *Makan J.
Citation:
Heart; Jun 2018; vol. 104, Supp 6
Abstract:
Iron deficiency (ID) affects up to 50% of patients with heart failure (HF) with higher rates in decompensated, hospitalised patients.1 ID is associated with poor functional capacity and recurrent hospital admissions. The 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for management of HF advocate measurement of ferritin and Transferrin Saturations (TSAT) in all HF patients. ID is defined by serum ferritin <100 mg/L or 100-299 mg/ L and TSAT <20%0.2 Intravenous Iron therapy is recommended for any patient meeting these parameters. This retrospective study looked at the diagnosis and management of ID in HF patients in a district general hospital. All 111 (n=111) inpatients with a diagnosis of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), admitted between April-October 2016 were included. The mean age of the population was 75 (30100), 37% female and 63% male. 64% (n=71) were anaemic (Male n=46, Female n=25) as defined by our laboratory haemoglobin reference ranges for gender. Only 51% (n=57) of all patients had Ferritin checked during admission or within 3 months of discharge with an average Ferritin of 161 mg/L (11-1432). 30.6% (n=34) of all patients had absolute iron deficiency (Ferritin <100 mg/L) and 14.4% (n=11) had ferritin in the range 100300 mg/L, in which further TSAT testing to confirm functional iron deficiency is recommended but is not performed locally unless specifically requested by the clinician. Only 4.5% (n=5) of all patients had further investigations looking into causes of ID, including gastro-intestinal work-up. 47.8% (n=53) died in the 1 year follow-up period with 9% (n=10) not surviving past the initial admission. Of the 101 patients surviving the initial admission, there was a total of 135 hospital admissions within the follow-up period, 58% (n=78) of which were directly related to HF. 11.7% of all patients (n=13) were prescribed oral iron therapy on discharge and only 2 out of all patients had intravenous iron therapy during admission or within 6 months of discharge. This study highlights the high readmission and mortality rates of hospitalised HF patients and that ID is an underdiagnosed comorbidity in this population. A new protocol has been proposed which involves mandatory testing of ferritin, and TSAT if required, at the time of diagnosis and during regular follow-up. Local research is underway to further evaluate the benefits of iron replacement in HF and the effects of the proposed protocol on this population.
Link to full-text [NHS OpenAthens account required]
