Soluble TNFα receptor type I and hepcidin as determinants of development of anemia in the long-term follow-up of heart failure patients

► Patients with heart failure who are still non-anemic were studied. ► Parameters of iron metabolism, inflammation and myocardial stress were measured. ► A higher sTNFRI at baseline predicted a significant decrease in hemoglobin at 1-year. ► The increase in hepcidin over time was also associated with a decrease in hemoglobin. ► Inflammation and iron metabolism were the main determinants of anemia development.