Oral Ferrous Sulphate Improves Functional Capacity on Heart Failure Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in heart failure (HF) is associated with poor functional capacity. Several studies reported the benefit of iron therapy in HF with IDA on improving functional capacity. Therefore, we attempt to investigate the effect of oral iron supplementation on functional capacity in HF patients with IDA. RESULTS: A double blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita Hospital Universitas Indonesia. A total of 54 HFREF patients with IDA were enrolled and randomized to either oral Ferrous Sulphate (FS) 200 mg three times a day or placebo with 1:1 ratio for 12 weeks. Primary outcome was functional capacity measured by a six-minute walk test. There were 41 participants completed the study (FS n = 22, placebo n = 19). Ferrous sulphate significantly improved functional capacity changes (46.23 ± 35 m vs –13.7 ± 46 m, p < 0.001, CI –86.8 to –33.2) compared with placebo groups respectively after 12 weeks intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Oral FS supplementation for 12 weeks significantly improved functional capacity in HF patients with IDA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02998697. Registered 14 December 2016 – Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02998697.