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|Articles|July 27, 2021
Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Iron Deficiency, Anemia in Heart Failure Patients
Author(s)Saro Arakelians, PharmD
Heart failure outcomes improve with optimal iron levels.
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Clinical Pearl of the Day:
- Patients with heart failure patients must be evaluated and treated for Iron deficiency and anemia.
- Prevalence over 50% in ambulatory patients.
- Iron deficiency in heart failure is defined as: ferritin < 100 µg/L or ferritin of 100-299 µg/L with a transferrin saturation <20%.
Explanation:
Iron deficiency:
- Should be screened and treated for patients with heart failure.
- Heart failure outcomes improve as iron levels improve.
- Intravenous iron replacement is needed because oral iron replacement trials do not show benefits.
- Risk factors for iron deficiency include female sex, advanced heart failure, higher levels of NTpro BNP and C reactive protein.
Reference
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