The following is a summary of “Ferric Carboxymaltose in Heart Failure with Iron Deficiency,” published in the September 2023 issue of Cardiology by Mentz et al.
Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is an iron replacement therapy that reduces symptoms and improves the quality of life in patients with heart failure with less ejection fraction and iron deficiency. Researchers performed a retrospective study to evaluate the effects of FCM therapy on signs and quality of life in patients with heart failure and iron deficiency.
They randomized patients with heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%, and iron deficiency (1:1) to receive FCM or placebo every 6 months as needed. Primary outcomes include death, heart failure, hospitalization, or a 6-minute walk distance change within 12 months. (significance level = 0.01).
The results showed 3,065 patients, with 1,532 assigned to the FCM group and 1,533 to the placebo group. By the end of the year, 8.6% were in the FCM group, and 10.3% mortality in the placebo group. There were 297 and 332 hospitalizations for heart failure in the FCM and placebo groups by month 12. The mean change in the 6-minute walk distance from baseline to 6 months was 8±60 m in the FCM group and 4±59 m in the placebo group (Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney P=0.02; unmatched win ratio, 1.10; 99% CI, 0.99 to 1.23). Repeated dosing of FCM appeared safe, with an acceptable adverse-event profile in most patients. The episode of serious adverse events during treatment was comparable in both groups, at 27.0% in the FCM group and 26.2% in the placebo group.
They concluded that FCM did not improve outcomes in heart failure patients with iron deficiency.
Source: nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2304968?logout=true
