Anemia and iron deficiency in heart failure

Heart failure is a common problem and a major cause of mortality, morbidity and impaired quality of life. Anemia is a frequent comorbidity in heart failure and further worsens prognosis and disability. Regardless of anemia status, iron deficiency is a common and usually unidentified problem in patients with heart failure. This article reviews the mechanisms, impact on outcomes and treatment of anemia and iron deficiency in patients with heart failure. Anemia e deficiência de ferro na insuficiência cardíaca Resumo A insuficiência cardíaca é uma patologia comum e uma causa importante de mor-talidade, morbilidade e deterioração da qualidade de vida. A anemia é uma comorbilidade frequente na insuficiência cardíaca e agrava o seu prognóstico e capacidade funcional. Inde-pendentemente da presença ou não de anemia, a deficiência de ferro é um problema associado à insuficiência cardíaca muitas vezes não identificado. Este artigo revê os mecanismos, impacto prognóstico e tratamento da anemia e deficiência de ferro. A 72-year-old woman with a history of poorly controlled hypertension under diuretic therapy for the previous 10 years was assessed for fatigue and dyspnea on minimal exertion (NYHA class III). Her blood pressure was 150/85 mmHg and her heart rate was 88 bpm; she had faint crackles in the lung bases and ankle edema. The ECG showed voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy. Her hemoglobin (Hb) level was 11.0 g/dl and her mean corpuscular volume was 85 fl, blood glucose 102 mg/dl, total cholesterol 190 mg/dl and creatinine 1 mg/dl. She was medicated with furosemide, a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor and a beta-blocker, and was referred for echocardiographic assessment. What role did the patient's Hb of 11 g/dl play in her clinical setting? 2174-2049/$ – see front matter Documento descargado de http://www.elsevier.es el 03/04/2017. Copia para uso personal, se prohíbe la transmisión de este documento por cualquier medio o formato. Table 1 Factors associated with anemia in patients with heart failure.