Usefulness of anemia as a predictor of death and rehospitalization in patients with decompensated heart failure

We investigated the prevalence of anemia and its relation to clinical events in patients with decompensated heart failure enrolled in the OPTIME-CHF study. Our data demonstrate that anemia is common in patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure and is associated with a greater number of co-morbid conditions. Lower baseline hemoglobin is associated with risk of short-term adverse clinical outcomes in this population, even after controlling for other baseline differences. (C) 2003 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.