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Review
. 2019 Nov 4;5(3):173-175.
doi: 10.15420/cfr.2019.9.2. eCollection 2019 Nov.

Why is Iron Deficiency Recognised as an Important Comorbidity in Heart Failure?

Nicole Ebner  1 , Stephan von Haehling  1
Affiliations
Review

Why is Iron Deficiency Recognised as an Important Comorbidity in Heart Failure?

Nicole Ebner et al. Card Fail Rev. .

Abstract

There is an increasing awareness of the prevalence of iron deficiency in patients with heart failure (HF), and its contributory role in the morbidity and mortality of HF. Iron is a trace element necessary for cells due to its capacity to transport oxygen and electrons. The prevalence of iron deficiency increases with the severity of HF. For a long time the influence of iron deficiency was underestimated, especially in terms of worsening of cardiovascular diseases and developing anaemia. In recent years, studies with intravenous iron agents in patients with iron deficiency and HF showed new insights into the improvement of iron therapy. Additionally, experimental studies supporting the understanding of iron metabolism and the resulting pathophysiological pathways of iron have been carried out. The aim of this mini review is to highlight why iron deficiency is recognised as an important comorbidity in HF.

Keywords: Iron deficiency; comorbidity; heart failure.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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