Prevalence of anemia in patients admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of congestive heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
To find the prevalence of anemia in patients hospitalized with the primary diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF).


BACKGROUND
There is growing evidence that anemia is common in CHF and may contribute to the high morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. However, there is considerable disagreement about the prevalence of anemia in this condition.


METHODS
In 338 consecutive patients who were admitted to the medical wards with a primary diagnosis of CHF we extracted from the charts the hemoglobin (Hb), serum creatinine, age, sex, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, presence of smoking, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and the primary cardiac etiology of the CHF. Anemia was considered to be present when the Hb on admission was <12 g/dl.


RESULTS
All the patients were NYHA functional class III-IV. One hundred seventy seven (52.4%) of the 338 patients had a Hb on admission that was <12 g/dl. The mean Hb for the entire group was 12.0+/-1.8 g/dl. One hundred three (51.0%) of the 202 males were anemic compared to 74 (54.4%) of the 136 women. The mean serum creatinine was 1.7+/-1.1 mg/dl. The prevalence of renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >1.5 mg%) was 47.6%. There was a negative correlation between the level of serum creatinine and Hb (r=-0.294) P<0.00001. Of the 177 patients who were anemic, most of 114 (64.4%) had a serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dl.


CONCLUSIONS
Anemia is a common finding in patients hospitalized with CHF and most anemic CHF patients have some degree of renal insufficiency. In view of the negative effect of anemia on cardiac function, it may be a common and important contributor to the mortality and morbidity of CHF in these patients.
Wexler
Dov
D
Cardiology and Heart Failure Unit, Tel Aviv Souraski Medical Center, Weizman 6, 64239 Tel Aviv, Israel.
Silverberg
Donald
D
Sheps
David
D
Blum
Miriam
M
Keren
Gad
G
Iaina
Adrian
A
Schwartz
Doron
D
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D003404:Creatinine