What is the evidence for the use of IV iron in the treatment of chronic heart failure?
Five studies were identified for inclusion within the review that evaluated the use of IV iron in the treatment of chronic heart failure. Four trials compared IV iron with placebo, with one of the trials also including an oral iron arm. A further single study compared oral iron with placebo. Two of the trials were in patients with anaemia; the other three trials included both anaemic and non-anaemic patients. The evidence ranged from high to very low quality. Outcomes rated as high quality evidence included Quality of Life (as measured by the EQ5D scale) and the haemoglobin level in people with anaemia, which both showed a clinically important symptomatic benefit of IV iron. Moderate quality evidence was found for the outcomes exercise tolerance and systolic blood pressure, both of which suggested no clinical effect of IV iron. The remaining outcomes were all rated as low or very low quality evidence.