Ferric carboxymaltose for the treatment of iron-deficient heart failure patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims: Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) has been shown to improve functional capacity and quality of life in iron deficient heart failure patients. However, FCM's effect on hospitalizations and mortality remains unclear as previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and their meta-analyses have been underpowered to detect significant differences. We sought to conduct an updated meta-analysis using recently published RCT data.

Methods and results: Online databases were searched from inception until November 2020 for RCTs evaluating the effects of FCM on clinical outcomes in iron-deficient heart failure patients. Outcomes of interest included heart failure hospitalizations, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effect model and estimates were reported as odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios, or rate ratios (RRs) along with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 1947 patients (n = 1062 in the FCM group; n = 885 in the placebo group) were included. FCM, compared with placebo, significantly reduced the risk of the composite endpoint of time to first heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death (hazard ratio = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.63-0.90; I² = 55%). FCM also significantly reduced the risk of recurrent heart failure hospitalizations (RR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.54-0.85; I² = 71%) and recurrent cardiovascular hospitalizations (RR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.59-0.86; I² = 56%). However, FCM had no significant effect on the risk of all-cause (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.73-1.28; I² = 0%) or cardiovascular mortality (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.69-1.27; I² = 0%).

Conclusions: Ferric carboxymaltose reduces heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular hospitalizations with no beneficial effect on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in iron-deficient heart failure patients. These findings reinforce the role of FCM as a therapeutic option in heart failure patients.