Effects of Total Dose Infusion of Iron Intravenously in Patients With Acute Heart Failure and Anemia (Hemoglobin < 13 g/dl)

Iron deficiency is common in heart failure (HF), and intravenous (IV) iron therapy has been associated with improved clinical status in ambulatory patients with HF. There are limited data to support the safety and efficacy of IV iron administration in patients with acute HF. This was a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to the University of Michigan Health System for HF with low iron studies during admission. Patients were grouped based on the receipt of IV iron therapy. Study outcomes included change in hemoglobin, 30-day readmission, and adverse events. Forty-four patients who received IV iron and 128 control patients were identified. The mean dose of IV iron received was 1,057 (±336) mg. IV iron resulted in a significantly greater increase in hemoglobin over time (p = 0.0001). The mean change in hemoglobin in the iron and control groups was 0.74 g/dl and 0.01 g/dl at day 7 and 2.61 g/dl and 0.23 g/dl at day 28, respectively. Thirty-day readmission rates were 30% and 22% for patients in the iron and control groups, respectively (p = 0.2787). In conclusion, total dose infusion IV iron is well tolerated and associated with significant improvement in hemoglobin in acute HF.