{
  "abstract": "Background Functional iron is essential for haemoglobin and cardiac myoglobin synthesis, as well as intracellular energy production and metabolism. Intravenous (IV) iron therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has been shown to improve metabolic function in mitochondrion-rich organs, leading to enhanced clinical outcomes including symptom relief, improved quality of life, increased 6-minute walking distance, reduced hospitalisations, and lower cardiovascular mortality. The European Society of Cardiology 2021 guidelines define iron deficiency in heart failure as haemoglobin<150g/L with ferritin<100μg/L, or transferrin saturation (TSAT)<20% if ferritin is between 100–299μg/L. These guidelines recommend periodic screening for anaemia and iron deficiency in this population and reassessment of iron parameters 4 weeks to 4 months after IV iron therapy to guide further treatment.Aim To evaluate whether HFrEF patients who received IV iron during hospital admission had appropriate post-discharge monitoring and management of iron status in the community.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on HFrEF patients admitted between 01/08/2023 and 31/07/2024 who received IV iron therapy. Discharge summaries were reviewed for documentation of follow-up plans, and electronic records were assessed to determine whether repeat iron studies were performed 4 weeks to 4 months post-discharge.Results Of 75 HFrEF patients treated with IV iron during admission, only 43.1% (n = 32) had discharge documentation recommending iron follow-up, and just 37.7% (n = 28) underwent iron studies within the recommended timeframe.Conclusion This audit highlights suboptimal post-discharge follow-up of iron status in HFrEF patients treated with IV iron. An educational intervention was implemented using ward posters to encourage clinicians to include iron follow-up advice in discharge summaries, prompting general practitioners to repeat iron studies and refer symptomatic patients or those with decompensated heart failure to the Community Heart Failure Team. Further interventions are planned to improve adherence to guideline-recommended follow-up care.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pilgrim Hospital Boston, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Sibsey Road, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 9QS, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Christos Charalambous"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Pilgrim Hospital Boston, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Sibsey Road, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 9QS, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Nuala Pepper"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Cardiology, Lincoln County Hospital, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Greetwell Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN2 5QY, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Richard Andrews"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P09 Intravenous iron follow-up in heart failure patients: a retrospective audit",
  "uid": "c97f9fa7-4bf9-574e-a5e5-4da1cddb5f99"
}