Abstract 12645: Iron Deficiency in Heart Failure - Screening, Detection, and Prevalence Patterns in a New York Public Hospital

Introduction: Iron deficiency (ID) is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and has been increasingly recognized as a poor prognostic factor.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify the prevalence of ID in HF among our patient population, rate of appropriate screening and detection of ID, and rates of IV iron repletion in eligible patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective analytical study involving all patients admitted to the floor with acute decompensated heart failure. Data pertaining to demographic variables, comorbidities, patients’ heart failure status such as ejection fraction etc. and iron studies and iron repletion status was obtained. The rates of screening for iron deficiency, appropriate detection using established criteria and iron repletion were calculated followed by data analysis.

Results: Out of total 126 patients, 35 (27.7%) had objective evidence of iron deficiency in heart failure, 48 (38.1%) did not have iron deficiency, while 43 patients (34.1%) did not have iron studies ordered during course of admission. White patients had lower odds of having iron deficiency compared to African Americans (OR = 0.32, p =0.013) but there was no significant correlation with age or gender. In our cohort, only 37% of patients with iron deficiency received appropriate repletion with IV iron. There was no racial or gender related bias in prescribing iron repletion.

Conclusions: Screening for iron deficiency in patients with heart failure is still not being adequately performed. There is scope for improvement in the repletion rates of intravenous iron in eligible patients.