Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesMeta-analysis

Efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose in heart failure with iron deficiency: an individual patient data meta-analysis

Eur Heart JPublished

  • Individual patient data meta-analysis of randomised trials
  • placebo-controlled

Authors' conclusion

In iron-deficient patients with HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, intravenous FCM was associated with significantly reduced risk of hospital admissions for HF and cardiovascular causes, with no apparent effect on mortality.

Study context

Population
Adults with heart failure (HF) and iron deficiency, trials with ≥52 weeks follow-up
Participants
4,501 adults · 3 trials
Comparison
Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) vs placebo
Outcome
Co-primary: (i) total/recurrent CV hospitalizations and CV death; (ii) total HF hospitalizations and CV death
Follow-up
52 weeks

Pooled result

As reported in the abstract

FCM vs PlaceboRate ratio (95% CI)P value
co-primary endpoint 1 (CV hospitalizations and CV death); Cochran Q: 0.008
0.86(0.75–0.98)
P = 0.029
co-primary endpoint 2 (HF hospitalizations and CV death); Cochran Q: 0.024
0.87(0.75–1.01)
P = 0.076

Further pooled results

Composite endpoint components

Treatment effects appeared to result from reduced hospitalization rates, not improved survival

Original publication

Efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose in heart failure with iron deficiency: an individual patient data meta-analysis. Eur Heart J. Published 26 August 2023. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehad586

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it