title: Treatment of anemia in patients with heart disease: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The benefits of anemia treatment in patients with heart disease are uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the benefits and harms of treatments for anemia in adults with heart disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases; clinical trial registries; reference lists; and technical advisors.
  
  
  METHODS
  English-language trials of blood transfusions, iron, or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in adults with anemia and congestive heart failure or coronary heart disease and observational studies of transfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on study design, population characteristics, hemoglobin levels, and health outcomes were extracted. Trials were assessed for quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low-strength evidence from 6 trials and 26 observational studies suggests that liberal transfusion protocols do not improve short-term mortality rates compared with less aggressive protocols (combined relative risk among trials, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.61 to 1.42]; I2 = 16.8%), although decreased mortality rates occurred in a small trial of patients with the acute coronary syndrome (1.8% vs. 13.0%; P = 0.032). Moderate-strength evidence from 3 trials of intravenous iron found improved short-term exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with heart failure. Moderate- to high-strength evidence from 17 trials of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent therapy found they offered no consistent benefits, but their use may be associated with harms, such as venous thromboembolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few trials have examined transfusions in patients with heart disease, and observational studies are potentially confounded by indication. Data supporting iron use come mainly from 1 large trial, and long-term effects are unknown.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher transfusion thresholds do not consistently improve mortality rates, but large trials are needed. Intravenous iron may help to alleviate symptoms in patients with heart failure and iron deficiency and also warrants further study. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents do not seem to benefit patients with mild to moderate anemia and heart disease and may be associated with serious harms.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
authors.affiliation: From Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Devan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kansagara
authors.affiliation: From Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.affiliation: From Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Honora
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Englander
authors.affiliation: From Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Rongwei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: From Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: From Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kagen
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002423:Cause of Death; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D007501:Iron