Anaemia in Heart Failure Patients: is it Looked for and Treated?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i1.558Keywords:
Anaemia, Heart Failure, Iron Deficiency, Supplementation, PakistanAbstract
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and corrective strategies in heart failure patients hospitalized for acute decompensation in the Cardiology Department of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Methodology: This retrospective study analysed 126 patients admitted between January 2024 and October 2024. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels <12 g/dL for males and <11.5 g/dL for females. Diagnostic parameters, such as serum ferritin and TIBC, and treatment strategies, including iron supplementation, were assessed. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test for anemia and supplementation. Results: The study found that 42.9% of patients were anemic, with hemoglobin levels below the defined thresholds. The mean age of participants was 60.3 years, with 62.7% being male. Normocytic anemia (MCV >75 fL) was observed in 73% of patients, while 38.1% had hematocrit levels <35%. Serum ferritin and TIBC were not performed for any patient. Iron supplementation was administered to only 4.8% of patients (1.6% each for IV replacement, oral replacement, and transfusion), while 95.2% received no supplementation. The Chi-square test showed no significant association between anemia and supplementation (p = 1.0). Conclusion: Anaemia was highly prevalent among heart failure patients in this study, yet diagnostic and treatment strategies were significantly underutilized. Routine diagnostics for iron deficiency and standardized anemia management protocols are urgently needed to improve outcomes.
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