Premium
The additive burden of iron deficiency in the cardiorenal–anaemia axis: scope of a problem and its consequences
Author(s) -
Klip IJsbrand T.,
Jankowska Ewa A.,
Enjuanes Cristina,
Voors Adriaan A.,
Banasiak Waldemar,
Bruguera Jordi,
Rozentryt Piotr,
Polonski Lech,
van Veldhuisen Dirk J.,
Ponikowski Piotr,
CominColet Josep,
van der Meer Peter
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1002/ejhf.84
Subject(s) - medicine , kidney disease , heart failure , renal function , transferrin saturation , iron deficiency , cardiorenal syndrome , hazard ratio , cohort , gastroenterology , ferritin , anemia , cardiology , confidence interval
Aims Iron deficiency ( ID ), anaemia, and chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) are common co‐morbidities in chronic heart failure ( CHF ) and all independent predictors of unfavourable outcome. The combination of anaemia and CKD in CHF has been described as the cardiorenal–anaemia syndrome. However, the role of ID within this complex interplay of co‐existing pathologies is unclear. Methods and results We studied the clinical correlates of ID (defined as ferritin <100 µg/L or 100–299 µg/L in combination with a transferrin saturation <20%, anaemia) and renal dysfunction (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL /min/1.73 m 2 ) and their prognostic implications in an international pooled cohort, comprising 1506 patients with CHF . Mean age was 64 ± 13 years, 74.2% were male, and 47.3% were in NYHA functional class III . The presence of ID , anaemia, CKD , or a combination of these co‐morbidities was observed in 69.3% of the patients. During a median ( Q1–Q3 ) follow‐up of 1.92 years (1.18–3.26 years), 440 patients (29.2%) died. Eight‐year survival rates decreased significantly from 58.0% for no co‐morbidities to 44.6, 33.0, and 18.4%, for one, two, or three co‐morbidities, respectively ( P < 0.001). Multivariate hazard models revealed ID to be the key determinant of prognosis, either individually ( P = 0.04) or in combination with either anaemia ( P = 0.006), CKD ( P = 0.03), or both ( P = 0.02). Conclusions Iron deficiency frequently overlaps with anaemia and/or CKD in CHF . The presence of ID amplifies mortality risk, either alone or in combination with anaemia, CKD , or both, making it a potential viable therapeutic target.