The prevalence of anemia in chronic heart failure

Objectives: To assess prevalence of anemia and its correlation with NYHA-class in patients with congestive heart failure. Background: Recently, it was reported that anemia in congestive heart failure patients is common and correlated with the severity of disease. In these patients with anemia, treatment with erythropoietin and intravenous iron improved cardiac function significantly. Methods: 193 patients from a tertiary heart failure outpatient clinic (mean age 54 years) were included in a retrospective analysis. Fourteen patients were in NYHA-class I, 69 class II, 79 class III, and 31 class IV. All patients had clinical and laboratory evaluation, echocardiography and coronary angiography. Patients with secondary anemia or on hemodialysis were excluded. Etiology of heart failure was ischemic in 41%. Results: Anemia (hemoglobin