Cost-effective heart failure management: Meta-analysis of IV iron therapy in iron-deficient heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND

Iron deficiency is an important co-morbidity in heart failure patients. IV iron may improve quality of life and reduce heart failure hospitalizations, but the results of the clinical trials are varied.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to assess not only the effect of IV iron in iron-deficient heart failure patients but also the quality of evidence.

METHODS

PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to Oct 2021. Randomized clinical trials in iron-deficient, heart failure patients assessing the effect of IV iron versus placebo and with at least 12 weeks of follow-up were included. The outcomes were pooled and analyzed using a random-effect model. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

Seven studies were included in our meta-analysis. IV iron was associated with a 13.8 % decreased risk of HF hospitalizations (OR 0.59; 0.35-0.98, p = 0.040, GRADE = Low). All-cause mortality and CV mortality were not different between IV iron and placebo. But a composite outcome of HF hospitalizations or CV mortality was 17.5 % lower with IV iron (OR 0.51;0.31-0.84, p = 0.008, GRADE = Moderate).

CONCLUSIONS

Among heart failure patients with iron deficiency, IV iron is associated with lower HF hospitalizations. It is a relatively inexpensive regimen that can potentially improve quality of life and decrease healthcare expenditure.