Enhancing quality of life and functional capacity in heart failure patients with iron deficiency: A regional cross-sectional study on intravenous iron therapy in Vietnam

Intravenous iron supplementation, particularly ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), has emerged as an effective therapeutic strategy for correcting iron deficiency (ID) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, the enhancement related to the quality of life (QoL) and functional capacity remains unclear, specifically in the Vietnam population. This study assesses the enhancement of QoL and functional capacity in intravenous FCM therapy in heart failure patients with ID. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis study in patients with chronic HFrEF. Eligible patients diagnosed with ID were treated with FCM. Endpoint was the improvement in QoL, assessed by the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level Version questionnaire, and functional capacity, measured by the change in the 6-minute walk test and New York Heart Association Functional Classification. A total of 132 patients with chronic HFrEF, with 35.60% of patients with ID. The study population had a mean age of 65.7 ± 9.4 years, males accounted for 56.8%. Female, New York Heart Association ≥3 and poor QoL significantly associated with ID. Notably, 12 weeks after intervention, patients with poor QoL decreased from 48.9% to 34.0% ( P < .001). Functional capacity, assessed by the 6-minute walk test, improved with the median distance increasing from 239.90 (198.80–291.70) m at baseline to 262.60 (219.50–309.70) m ( P < .01). Nausea was reported by a small minority at 4.25%. Our study highlights the significant burden of ID in patients with HFrEF, emphasizing its strong association with symptom severity, functional impairment, and reduced QoL. Intravenous FCM therapy demonstrated significant improvements in iron parameters, functional capacity, and QoL, with a favorable safety profile.