Van Dalen DH, Kragten JA, Emans ME, et al. - High prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) was evident in acute heart failure (AHF) patients, but it resolved during treatment in some patients, even without iron supplementation. Over time persistence of absolute ID is more likely, whereas functional ID commonly resolves during treatment of AHF, representing likely a decreased iron availability rather than a true deficiency.

• This is a prospective, multicenter, observational study of 742 patients admitted with AHF to determine the percentage of patients with ID at admission (T0), after clinical stabilization prior to discharge (T1), and 10 ± 6 weeks after discharge (T2).

• At T0, T1 and T2, ID was present in 71.8%, 56.4%, and 50.3% of patients, respectively.

• Absolute ID persisted from T0 to T2 in 66% of the patients, while functional ID resolved in 56% of the patients.

• From T0 to T1, a significant elevation in ferritin, transferrin saturation, and iron levels was evident.

• Also, significant increase in transferrin saturation and iron levels was noted from T1 to T2 without iron supplementation.