THE PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA IN ELDERLY WITH SYSTOLIC HEART FAILURE HOSPITALIZED IN ALBORZ HOSPITAL OF KARAJ 2008

Anemia is prevalent co morbidity in heart failure that is an independent risk factor for adverse clinical outcomes in patients with congestive heart failure. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of anemia in the elderly with systolic heart failure hospitalized in Alborz Hospital of Karaj during 2002-2008. This is a descriptive retrospective study that reviewed 154 medical records of elderly with systolic heart failure during 2002-2008. Demographic, laboratory, and echocardiography data were reviewed from medical records. In this study Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level below 12 g/dL in women and below 13 g/dL in men. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation and independent group test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The findings indicated that the prevalence of anemia in the elderly with systolic heart failure was 42.9%. There was a significant difference between the mean level of hemoglobin in heart failure with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p=0.000) and hypokalemia (p=0.017). There was a significant association between the level of hemoglobin with age (p=0.014) and left ventricular ejection fraction (0.022). This study indicates that anemia is frequent among the elderly with systolic heart failure and anemia may be associated with age, left ventricular ejection fraction, serum potassium and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.