Prevalence of, Association with, Severity of, and Prognostic Role of Serum Hemoglobin Level in Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure Patients

Abstract

Abstract Background The role of serum hemoglobin level (SHL) in the short prognosis of heart failure (HF) remains unclear. We aimed to declare the prevalence of, association with, severity of, and prognostic role of SHL with HF. Methods Using the data from the PROVE-HF study, we assessed the association between anemia and polycythemia (Hb < 13g/Lit, > 16.5g/Lit in males and < 12g/Lit, and > 16g/Lit in females, respectively) and short-term mortality using Cox proportional hazard modeling, with adjustment of clinically relevant variables. Results Of 3652 HF patients, 48.40% including 1546 (42.33%), 118 (3.23%), 9 (0.24%), and 422 (11.55%) mild, moderate, severely anemic, and polycythemic found, respectively. Compared to non-anemic patients, anemic patients were mainly male, older, and were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), kidney, and thyroid disease. Important predictors of short-term mortality were lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lower SHL, and higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Anemic patients had higher all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.213, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.054–1.396]. Moderate anemia increased the risk of mortality by approximately 80% in males (aHR 1.793, 95% CI 1.308–2.458) and females (aHR 1.790, 95% CI 1.312–2.442), respectively. Polycythemia had no association with short-term mortality in both genders (P-value > 0.05). Conclusions This study revealed that anemia is an adverse prognostic factor for short-term mortality in HF patients, with a greater risk of mortality in moderately anemic patients.