The prognostic value of anemia, right-heart catheterization and neurohormones in chronic heart failure.

Chronic heart failure is increasing in incidence and prevalence. Recent advances in medical therapy have improved prognosis such that, even in patients with chronic heart failure who are New York Heart Association Classes III and IV, annual mortality can be as low as 11.4%. Nevertheless, some patients remain at risk, despite optimal disease-modifying medical therapy, and it would seem appropriate that these patients are considered first for appropriate device therapy or for the scarce resource of cardiac transplantation. Many parameters have been assessed for their prognostic potential in patients with chronic heart failure. In this review, pertinent studies investigating anemia, right-heart hemodynamics and neurohormones as prognostic markers are discussed.