2. Anemia in heart failure – The underdog of risk predictors?

Abstract

Clinical Research. Presentation type: Poster Presentation. Introduction: Anemia is frequent in chronic heart failure and has shown to reduce survival in heart failure, particularly in patients with reduced ejection fraction. However, there is paucity of such data in a Saudi heart failure population. Methodology: We studied patients enrolled in a dedicated Heart Failure Disease Management Programme (n = 2727, 72% male). Clinical characteristics and mortality data were analysed for the entire cohort and categorized using WHO Classification of anaemia. Categorical variables were presented as percentages, compared by chi-square test and expressed as odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals. Continuous data were summarized as mean ± SD. Relationship between parameters was analysed using regression analysis. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan Meir curves. Data was analysed using JMP(SAS for Windows and p 15 g/dl. Patients with anemia were older, more likely to be NYHA Class II–III, have renal impairment and reduced ejection fraction (all p < 0.0001). Anemic patients were less likely to receive ACEI, beta blockers, aldosterone antagonists (all p < 0.001) and more likely to be on diuretics, vasodilators and anti-platelets (all p < 0.001). Anemic patients had significantly reduced survival (log rank p < 0.0001), as shown by Kaplan Meir curve analysis. Conclusion: Anemia is quite prevalent in a Saudi heart failure population with a significant preponderance in older patients with significant comorbidities. It is also associated with poor survival compared with those with normal haemoglobin levels.