Anemia, Mortality, and Hospitalizations in Heart Failure With a Preserved Ejection Fraction (from the TOPCAT Trial)

In this post-hoc analysis of the TOPCAT trial, we evaluated the prognostic role of anemia in adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Anemia was defined as hemoglobin of <12 g/dl in females and <13 g/dl in males. The primary outcome was a composite of CV mortality, aborted cardiac arrest (ACA), and heart failure (HF) hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were components of the primary outcome, all-cause, CV and non-CV mortality, cause-specific CV and non-CV mortality, all-cause and HF hospitalization, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Among 1,748 patients from TOPCAT-Americas, patients with anemia had a 52% higher risk of the primary outcome (hazard ratio [HR] 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.27, 1.83, p<0.05) during a median follow up of 2.4 years. These patients were also at higher risk of all-cause and CV mortality with no difference in non-CV mortality. Among CV causes, patients with anemia had higher risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD)/ACA and presumed CV death with no difference in death due to pump failure. Among non-CV causes, patients with anemia had higher risk of death due to malignancy (HR 2.61, p<0.05). Patients with anemia had higher risk of all-cause and HF hospitalizations (HR 1.26 and 1.56, respectively, p<0.05 for both). There was no difference in the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke. In conclusion, patients with HFpEF and anemia are at higher risk of mortality and hospitalization. Anemia is a significant risk factor for SCD/ACA, death due to presumed CV causes and malignancy in HFpEF.