Effects of Low Intensity Antithrombotic Regimes on the Haemoglobin Level

The Impact of Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with De-compensated Heart Failure and Iron

Abstract: The iron deficient anaemia is a common medical condition in patients with heart failure receiving antithrombotic therapy. Especially during the COVID19 pandemic period the rate of bleeding complications associated with the antithrombotic therapy tend to be higher, as the patient’s referral to medical services is lower and the interaction doctor-patient is limited. In our retrospective observational study we included 300 consecutive patients with decompensated heat failure associating iron deficient anaemia. For defining the medical conditions we used the ESC guidelines terminology and diagnostic criteria. We assessed the association between the iron deficient anaemia and different antithrombotic therapies, recommended in concordance to ESC Guidelines. We found that aspirin 75mg/day was statistical significant associated with iron deficient anaemia (p 0.012) and anaemia severity (p 0.002), this association being assessed by Chi square and Pearson tests. Also, neither clopidogrel, ticagrelor, VKA or non-VKA were associated to the presence of anaemia. By assessing the mortality rate associated to anaemia severity, the severe anaemia was associated to higher mortality rate, meanwhile no antithrombotic therapy was associated with higher readmission or mortality rate (p<0.001). In conclusion, aspirin was the only antithrombotic therapy associated with the presence of anaemia and anaemia severity, while only severe anaemia was associated with statistic significant increase of patient’s mortality, with nonstatistical result regarding the readmission rate. This finding is concordant to the necessity of a permanent evaluation of the antithrombotic therapy in heart failure patients. Keywords: antithrombotic therapy, decompensated heart failure, iron deficient anaemia, COVID 19 pan-demic, mortality rate

Is there an association between low dose aspirin and anemia (without overt bleeding)? Narrative review

Background

Overt bleeding associated with low dose aspirin (LDA) is well-recognized, little attention is given to the possibility of association between LDA and occult bleeding, although this is known to occur in healthy volunteers. LDA is used increasingly in primary and secondary prevention of a number of medical conditions, many of which are common in older people, as is anemia. Anemia in older people is associated with adverse outcomes including disability, morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to review the evidence that LDA might cause anemia without overt bleeding.

Methods

An extensive narrative review was carried out. Electronic searching (including database links) and reference lists of reports were used to identify studies reporting on use of aspirin ≤325 mg/day and anemia or change in hemoglobin (Hb) without overt bleeding. Data were extracted from reports of trials, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and prevalence studies of adults aged ≥18 years, published since 1980.

Results

There are few relevant data, with considerable heterogeneity among trial designs, duration, and patient characteristics in studies of LDA. In five randomised trials (n = 5879) in (mostly secondary) prevention, the majority of patients were men without peptic ulcer disease aged 50-70 years and no consistent association between LDA and change in Hb was found. In two smaller studies (n = 609) of primary prevention in healthy patients aged ≥70 years, there was a small but statistically significant fall in Hb with LDA. Observational studies, and data from trials in which use of LDA was not a primary focus of the study, were inconclusive.

Conclusions

It is not clear whether there is an association between LDA and anemia in the absence of overt bleeding, but there may be an association between LDA and fall in Hb in (a subset of) older patients. The available evidence has significant limitations, which are discussed; studies including more older patients, and publication of individual patient data, would help clarify this important matter.