Anemia and Heart Failure in a Community-based Cohort: Comparison with a Specialized Outpatient Clinic

Background: Anemia is common in patients with heart failure (HF). Its prevalence in patients with HF from a community-based cohort is unknown in our country Objective: evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of patients with anemia in a non-selected population with HF from a community-based cohort, comparing it with that of a I-IF population treated at a specialized outpatient clinic. Methods: This was a transversal, prospective, observational study, carried out from January 2006 to March 2007. The patients with HF met the Boston criteria, with a score >= 8. Anemia was defined through the criteria of the World Health Organization as hemoglobin levels < 13 g/dL for men and <12 g/dl for women. Patients treated at a primary care program in the community were randomly selected, as well as patients treated at a Heart Failure Outpatient Clinic in a university hospital. Results: A total of 206 patients were assessed, with a mean age of 61.3 +/- 13.3 years, of which 53.4% were females. The prevalence of anemia in the community-based cohort (n=114) was 21% and at the outpatient clinic (n =92), of 25% (p=0.50). The patients from the community-based cohort presented a lower rate of kidney dysfunction (GFR<60 ml/min/1,73(-5)) predominance of HF with normal ejection fraction and female sex. Kidney function parameters (urea or creatinine) independently correlated with anemia in both populations. Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia was similar in the studied populations. Kidney function was the only factor that independently correlated with anemia in both populations. (Arci Bras Cardiol 2010; 94(1) : 95-101)