Heart failure and anemia: Effects on prognostic variables

Abstract Background Anemia is frequent in heart failure (HF), and it is associated with higher mortality. The predictive power of established HF prognostic parameters in anemic HF patients is unknown. Methods Clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic and cardiopulmonary-exercise-test (CPET) data were analyzed in 3913 HF patients grouped according to hemoglobin (Hb) values. 248 (6%), 857 (22%), 2160 (55%) and 648 (17%) patients had very low (  15) Hb, respectively. Results Median follow-up was 1363 days (606–1883). CPETs were always performed safely. Hb was related to prognosis (Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.864). No prognostic difference was observed between normal and high Hb groups. Peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 ), ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO 2 slope), plasma sodium concentration, ejection fraction (LVEF), kidney function and Hb were independently related to prognosis in the entire population. Considering Hb groups separately, peakVO 2 (very low Hb HR = 0.549, low Hb HR = 0.613, normal Hb HR = 0.618, high Hb HR = 0.542) and LVEF (very low Hb HR = 0.49, low Hb HR = 0.692, normal Hb HR = 0.697, high Hb HR = 0.694) maintained their prognostic roles. High VE/VCO 2 slope was associated with poor prognosis only in patients with low and normal Hb. Conclusions Anemic HF patients have a worse prognosis, but CPET can be safely performed. PeakVO 2 and LVEF, but not VE/VCO 2 slope, maintain their prognostic power also in HF patients with Hb