[Prevalence and significance of anaemia in patients with chronic congestive heart failure].

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and significance of anaemia in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), as well as the prevalence of impaired renal function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We did a retrospective study of 50 women and 113 men with systolic CHF. Data were collected by reviewing clinical records. Age at inclusion was 70 +/- 8 years. The follow-up period was 30 +/- 7.5 months. Patients in NYHA class IV were not included in this study. Anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin (Hb) count of < or = 8 mmol/l for both sexes.

RESULTS

At inclusion 23% and at follow-up 35% were anemic. Forty-nine patients' Hb was measured at both inclusion and follow-up; their Hb was 8.8 +/- 1.1 mmol/l at inclusion and 8.3 +/- 1.1 mmol/l at follow-up (p < 0.001). Of these 49 patients, 10 were anemic at both inclusion and follow-up (group A), 10 developed anemia in the follow-up period (group B), 26 did not have anemia at either inclusion or follow-up (group C) and 3 had anemia at inclusion but not at follow-up (group D). A decrease in Hb in group A, B and C and an elevation in S-creatinine in all four groups was observed. In group B and C the decrease in Hb and S-creatinine was significant. Ninety-six patients' S-creatinine was measured at both inclusion and follow-up, and a significant decrease was observed. 18% of the patients died in the intervening period, and 7% were lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that both anaemia and impaired renal function are found in CHF patients (23-32% and 20-27%, respectively) and that these may influence patients' quality of life and functional level. In the future, there should be a greater focus on both anaemia and impaired renal function in CHF patients.