Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia in Patients With Heart Failure

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common entity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), with almost half of patients having either absolute or functional iron deficiency.¹ Many HFrEF patients present with iron deficiency, many with anemia, and many with both.¹ The estimated prevalence of anemia varies widely (from 6% to 70%), reflecting the heterogeneity in anemia screening, clinical setting (i.e., hospitalized vs. outpatients), and socioeconomic status of the study populations.²

Anemia is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with HFrEF. It is “independently associated with HF disease severity, and iron deficiency appears to be uniquely associated with reduced exercise capacity.”³ Despite the high prevalence and serious consequences of anemia in patients with HF, it often goes unnoticed.⁴ 

To shed light on the often-challenging management of this common condition, MPR presented the case of a hypothetical patient to Rachel Bijou, MD, Attending Cardiologist, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Bijou specializes in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.