WEDNESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2010
A recent study carried out at the Military Hospital, Medical University of Wroclaw, demonstrates new links between iron deficiency and chronic heart failure (CHF) syndrome.
Iron deficiency was traditionally linked with presence of anaemia in chronic heart failure (CHF), with prevalence varying from 20 percent to 70 percent. Recent research shows that it also affects one third of the non-anaemic CHF patients. Iron deficiency appeared independent of the severity of CHF symptoms and irrespective of anaemia. It also seemed to be associated with exercise intolerance and leads to a reduced quality of life. The report suggests that in light of the high prevalence and clinical consequences of iron deficiency, cardiologists should become more aware of its importance in CHF patients, and be more able to evaluate iron status using a combination of simple, clinically relevant parameters of iron metabolism. It may well be perceived as an attractive therapeutic target in CHF.
Several earlier reports have already shown that in iron deficient CHF patients, iron repletion can safely improve functional capacity, while exercising tolerance and quality of life. However, more studies are needed to evaluate whether correction of iron deficiency in CHF would translate into clinical benefits.
The results are published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
Written by Nitika Somani
