Effect of ferric carboxymaltose on hospitalization and mortality outcomes in chronic heart failure: A meta-analysis

Omega-3 supplementation and outcomes of heart failure: A systematic review of clinical trials

BACKGROUNDS

Omega-3 supplements are endorsed for heart failure (HF) patients to reduce hospitalizations and mortality, offering anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective benefits.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in various databases until November 2022. Eligible studies included clinical trials on patients with HF. Data extraction covered study details, omega-3 specifics, outcomes, and limitations. The JADAD scale was used to assess the risk of bias in randomized controlled trials.

RESULTS

The review process involved 572 records from database searches, resulting in 19 studies after eliminating duplicates and screening. These studies assessed the impact of omega-3 on various clinical outcomes, such as mortality, hospitalization, cardiac function, and quality of life. Studied duration varied from weeks to years. Omega-3 supplementation demonstrated potential benefits such as improved heart function, reduced inflammation, and decreased risk of cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSION

Omega-3 supplementation could benefit heart disease treatment, potentially reducing therapy duration and improving outcomes. Starting omega-3 supplementation for HF patients seems favorable.

Safety and Efficacy of Ferric Carboxymaltose in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and Iron Deficiency

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) is a prevalent cardiovascular condition characterized by a complex pathophysiology and limited therapeutic options. Coinciding iron deficiency often compounds the clinical picture, contributing to symptom burden and adverse outcomes. The review underscores the urgency for effective treatments in light of its increasing incidence and considerable healthcare burden. It highlights the clinical significance of addressing iron deficiency in HFpEF patients. FCM emerges as a promising therapeutic modality, demonstrating the ability to rapidly restore iron stores and enhance patients' quality of life while reducing hospitalization rates and mortality. The review thoroughly elucidates the impact of iron deficiency on HFpEF symptoms and outcomes, elucidating how FCM effectively mitigates these challenges. Detailed discussions encompass FCM's mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and safety profile. Notably, FCM's adaptability to diverse patient profiles and clinical settings is emphasized, reinforcing its clinical utility. Clinical evidence, including study designs, patient cohorts, and key findings, affirms FCM's potential as a valuable therapeutic option. Real-world data analysis further underscores FCM's practicality and safety beyond controlled clinical trials. The review concludes by addressing future research directions and critical research gaps, accentuating the need for mechanistic insights, long-term outcome studies, and refined patient selection criteria. As FCM increasingly integrates into clinical practice, it offers promise in revolutionizing HFpEF management, addressing an unmet need in this intricate cardiovascular condition.

Intravenous iron therapy among patients with heart failure and iron deficiency: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the role of intravenous (IV) iron administration in patients with heart failure (HF) and iron deficiency (ID) have yielded inconsistent results.

Methods

Electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and OVID databases was performed until November 2022 for RCTs that evaluated the role of IV iron administration in patients with HF and ID. The main study outcomes were the composite of HF hospitalization or cardiovascular mortality, and individual outcome of HF hospitalization. Summary estimates were evaluated using random effects model.

Results

The final analysis included 12 RCTs with 3,492 patients (1,831 patients in the IV iron group and 1,661 patients in the control group). The mean follow-up was 8.3 months. IV iron was associated with a lower incidence in the composite of HF hospitalization or cardiovascular mortality (31.9% vs. 45.3%; relative risk [RR] 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.88) and individual outcome of HF hospitalization (28.4% vs. 42.2; RR 0.69; 95% CI 0.57-0.85). There was no significant difference between both groups in cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.88; 95% CI 0.75-1.04) and all-cause mortality (RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.83-1.09). IV iron was associated with lower New York Heart Association class and higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Meta-regression analyses showed no effect modification for the main outcomes based on age, hemoglobin level, ferritin level or LVEF.

Conclusion

Among patients with HF and ID, IV iron administration was associated with reduction in the composite of HF hospitalization or cardiovascular mortality and driven by a reduction in HF hospitalization.

Why Iron Deficiency in Acute Heart Failure Should Be Treated: A Real-World Clinical Practice Study

Background. This study aims to determine whether the administration of ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) and iron deficiency (ID) improves morbidity and mortality. Methods. We studied 890 consecutive patients admitted for AHF. Patients were divided into six groups according to reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) or preserved (HFpEF), presence of ID, and administration of FCM. Emergency visits, re-admissions, and all-cause mortality were assessed at 6 months. Results. The overall prevalence of ID was 91.2%. In the HFrEF group, no differences were found in isolated events when patients with untreated vs. treated ID were compared, while differences were found in the combined event rate (p = 0.049). The risk calculation showed an absolute risk reduction (ARR) of 10% and relative risk reduction (RRR) of 18%. In HFpEF there was a positive trend with regard to the combined event (p = 0.107), with an ARR of 9% and an RRR of 15%. The number of patients we needed to treat to prevent a combined event was 10.5 in HFrEF and 10.8 in HFpEF. Conclusions. FCM in AHF reduced the combined event rate of emergency visits, re-admission, and all-cause death at 6 months in HF with left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, and showed a positive trend in HFpEF.

Iron Deficiency in Heart Failure Patients and Benefits of Iron Replacement on Clinical Outcomes Including Comorbid Depression

BACKGROUND

Iron deficiency and depression are prevalent comorbidities in the setting of heart failure. Both conditions are associated with poorer patient outcomes including mortality, hospitalisation and quality of life. Iron replacement has come to the fore as a means to improve patient outcomes. This review aims to assess the current literature regarding the benefits of iron supplementation for iron deficient heart failure patients including potential improvements in depression.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The databases of Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane library of systematic reviews, Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for studies with relevant patient outcomes. A total of 18 studies were identified and included in the review. In essence, intravenous iron was found to be beneficial for New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, quality of life measures, heart failure (HF) hospitalisation and aerobic capacity. Oral iron however was not beneficial. Research surrounding intravenous iron improving cardiovascular mortality, time to first hospitalisation and changes in depression status is lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is required to elucidate the advantages of intravenous iron for iron deficient heart failure patients on their depression, mortality and first admission to hospital. Consensus is required regarding which form of iron and the treatment regime that should be adopted for future clinical guidelines.

Budget Impact of Intravenous Iron Therapy with Ferric Carboxymaltose in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Iron Deficiency in Romania

Background: Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) treatment in case of iron deficient (ID) patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) has shown great promise according to the findings of recent studies in improvement of symptoms and quality of life, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, and exercise capacity.

Aim of the study: The purpose of the current study is to assess the budget impact of treating CHF patients with FCM in a sample of Romanian hospitals.

Material and methods: Calculations have been based on the budget impact model developed by Theidel et al. The assumptions and clinical outcomes of the current study were based on a multivariate statistical approach used in the same German study. The predicted outcomes were based on data pooled from four double-blind randomized controlled trials. The time horizon of the model was 1 year. Budget impact calculations were performed from the public payer perspective. Two scenarios have been handled: one without applying the Clawback tax and one with applying the tax to the cost of medication.

Results: The yearly budget impact of FCM vs. no iron-replacement treatment without applying the tax ranged between €678,383 and €641,588 for 1,000 patients, resulting in €37 of additional costs per patient per year. The yearly budget impact of FCM vs. no iron-replacement treatment with applying the tax ranged between €616,934 and €641,588 for 1,000 patients, resulting in €9 of cost reduction per patient per year. Key cost drivers included the cost of outpatient visits and the cost of hospitalization due to HF worsening. Sensitivity analysis for both scenarios proved the robustness of the results.

Conclusions: The FCM treatment of CHF patients has a moderate budget impact. Moreover, this budget impact/saving translates into a reduction of the rate and length of hospitalization stay and a better symptomatic profile of the patients.

New diagnostic tools for delineating iron status

Recent advances in our understanding of iron metabolism regulation and crosstalk with erythropoiesis have provided insight into the pathophysiology of multiple disease conditions. For instance, the peptide hormone hepcidin is central to the regulation of iron metabolism. Its effect on cellular iron concentration involves binding ferroportin, the main iron export protein, resulting in its internalization and degradation and leading to iron sequestration within ferroportin-expressing cells. Furthermore, hepcidin regulation by erythropoiesis is attributed in large part to a bone marrow-derived hormone erythroferrone. Erythroferrone-induced hepcidin suppression in diseases of expanded hematopoiesis results in iron overload. Conversely, diseases, such as iron refractory iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic inflammation, are characterized by aberrantly increased hepcidin, resulting in iron sequestration and decreased circulating iron and eventually leading to iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Lastly, because iron functions in concert with erythropoietin to promote erythroid precursor survival, proliferation, and differentiation, iron deficiency anemia is a consequence not only of decreased hemoglobin synthesis in each cell but also, a decrease in erythropoietin responsiveness in the bone marrow. How to translate this new information to the clinical setting has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this manuscript is to summarize current standard tools for identifying iron deficiency in anemic patients; explore the tools and context for evaluating novel markers, such as hepcidin, erythroferrone, and markers of the iron restriction response; and assess available evidence for how their use could increase our understanding of health outcomes in clinically challenging cases.

Efficacy of sacubitril valsartan sodium tablet for the treatment of chronic heart failure: A systematic review protocol of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

This study aims to systematically explore the efficacy of sacubitril valsartan sodium tablet (SVST) for the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODS

Nine electronic databases, including PUBMED, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, WANGFANG, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure will be searched. Randomized controlled trials on SVST in the treatment of CHF will be collected. The search time limit will be from the establishment of each electronic database until June 1, 2019. Two authors will independently select the literature, carry out the data, and assess the methodological quality.

RESULTS

This study will systematically investigate the efficacy and safety of SVST for CHF. The outcomes consist of all-cause mortality, change in body weight, urine output, change in serum sodium; and incidence of any expected and unexpected adverse events.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study will summarize from evidence-based medicine and a scientific basis for the efficacy and safety of SVST in the clinical treatment of CHF.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42019138882.

Intravenous Iron in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Intravenous iron is a standard treatment for patients undergoing hemodialysis, but comparative data regarding clinically effective regimens are limited.

METHODS

In a multicenter, open-label trial with blinded end-point evaluation, we randomly assigned adults undergoing maintenance hemodialysis to receive either high-dose iron sucrose, administered intravenously in a proactive fashion (400 mg monthly, unless the ferritin concentration was >700 μg per liter or the transferrin saturation was ≥40%), or low-dose iron sucrose, administered intravenously in a reactive fashion (0 to 400 mg monthly, with a ferritin concentration of <200 μg per liter or a transferrin saturation of <20% being a trigger for iron administration). The primary end point was the composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, hospitalization for heart failure, or death, assessed in a time-to-first-event analysis. These end points were also analyzed as recurrent events. Other secondary end points included death, infection rate, and dose of an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. Noninferiority of the high-dose group to the low-dose group would be established if the upper boundary of the 95% confidence interval for the hazard ratio for the primary end point did not cross 1.25.

RESULTS

A total of 2141 patients underwent randomization (1093 patients to the high-dose group and 1048 to the low-dose group). The median follow-up was 2.1 years. Patients in the high-dose group received a median monthly iron dose of 264 mg (interquartile range [25th to 75th percentile], 200 to 336), as compared with 145 mg (interquartile range, 100 to 190) in the low-dose group. The median monthly dose of an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent was 29,757 IU in the high-dose group and 38,805 IU in the low-dose group (median difference, -7539 IU; 95% confidence interval [CI], -9485 to -5582). A total of 320 patients (29.3%) in the high-dose group had a primary end-point event, as compared with 338 (32.3%) in the low-dose group (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.00; P<0.001 for noninferiority; P=0.04 for superiority). In an analysis that used a recurrent-events approach, there were 429 events in the high-dose group and 507 in the low-dose group (rate ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.92). The infection rate was the same in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients undergoing hemodialysis, a high-dose intravenous iron regimen administered proactively was superior to a low-dose regimen administered reactively and resulted in lower doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent being administered. (Funded by Kidney Research UK; PIVOTAL EudraCT number, 2013-002267-25 .).