Although chronic heart failure can be successfully managed, the clinical outcome for many patients is still poor. This indicates the importance of identifying and treating co-morbid factors that independently accelerate disease progression. Iron deficiency is linked to both disease severity and mortality in patients with chronic heart disease, and its correction has been shown to elicit a significant improvement in cognitive, symptomatic and exercise performance1,2.
The physiological consequences of chronic heart failure are multi-faceted, with several tightly controlled and inter-related processes disturbed. Erythropoiesis and hepcidin-regulated iron transport are just two processes involved in iron homeostasis that are detrimentally altered in patients with chronic heart failure and ultimately contribute to the development of functional iron deficiency1.
Iron-deficient elderly individuals living in long-term care facilities have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, a new study finds. Severity of iron deficiency was positively correlated with each outcome, indicating that careful monitoring and treatment of iron deficiency in this population could improve survival.
Ironresource.org is a non-promotional, educational resource exclusively available to healthcare professionals working in iron therapy from a host of therapeutic areas.
Ironresource.org is an educational programme funded by Vifor (International) Inc. All content is independently generated by the Ironresource.org faculty experts reflecting their knowledge and opinions.