Iron deficiency is an important comorbidity in patients with heart failure, occurring
in around 40% of patients with chronic heart failure and 70% of patients with acute
heart failure.1,2 Iron deficiency is associated with a reduction in both quality of
life and exercise capacity, and an increase in hospital admissions for heart failure
and mortality, irrespective of the presence of anaemia.3 Current European Society
of Cardiology guidance for the treatment of iron deficiency in patients with heart
failure is intravenous iron supplementation with ferric carboxymaltose.
A third to a fifth of all patients presenting to heart centers would be suitable for the early discharge pathway, researchers propose. Others call for more data to ensure safety.