Prevalence of anemia and renal insufficiency in non-hospitalized patients with heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Heart Failure (HF) is a common disease with a high rate of mortality. Anemia and renal failure (RF) are often found in patients with HF associated with higher severity of the heart disease and a worse prognosis.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and RF, as well as the association between these two conditions, in non-hospitalized patients with HF.


METHODS
Patients treated at the HF Outpatient Clinic of a university hospital were followed from July 2003 to November 2006. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels < 13 mg/dl for men and 12 mg/dl for women. Renal function was assessed by the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), calculated by the simplified formula of the MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) study.


RESULTS
Of the 345 patients included in this study, 26.4% (n = 91) had anemia and 29.6% had moderate to severe renal failure (GFR < 60 ml/min). The association between anemia and a higher prevalence of renal failure was statistically significant (41.8% vs. 25.2%; p = 0.005). The patients at functional class III and IV presented a higher incidence of anemia (39.0% vs. 19.4%; p <0.001) and renal failure (38.2% vs. 24.8%; p = 0.007). No association was observed between anemia or renal failure and history of hypertension, diabetes, systolic function or etiology of HF.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of anemia and renal failure was high in this population and was associated with the severity of the HF (functional classes III and IV).
Hospital Universitário Professor Edgar Santos, UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Francisco José Farias Borges dos
FJ
Reis
André Maurício Souza
AM
Fernandes
Almir Galvão Vieira
AG
Bitencourt
Flávia Branco Cerqueira Serra
FB
Neves
André Yoichi
AY
Kuwano
Victor Hugo Pinheiro
VH
França
Cristiano Ricardo Bastos de
CR
Macedo
Cristiano Gonçalves da
CG
Cruz
Viviane
V
Sahade
Roque
R
Aras Júnior
D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*