Ferritin levels and risk of heart failure-the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Eur J Heart Fail. 2017 Mar;19(3):340-347. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.701. Epub 2016 Dec 14.

Abstract

Aims: Severe iron overload is associated with cardiac damage, while iron deficiency has been related to worse outcomes in subjects with heart failure (HF). This study investigated the relationship between ferritin, a marker of iron status, and the incidence of HF in a community-based cohort.

Methods and results: We examined 1063 participants who were free of heart failure from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study in whom ferritin serum levels were measured at baseline (1987-1989). The participants (mean age 52.7 ± 5.5 years, 62% women), were categorized in low (<30 ng/mL; n = 153), normal (30-200 ng/mL in women and 30-300 ng/mL in men; n = 663), and high (>200 ng/mL in women and >300 ng/mL in men; n = 247) ferritin levels. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship between ferritin and incident HF. After 21 ± 4.6 years of follow-up, HF occurred in 144 (13.5%) participants. When compared with participants with normal ferritin levels, participants with low ferritin levels had a higher risk of HF [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-4.35; P = 0.02] as did those with high ferritin levels (HR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.01-3.25; P = 0.04), after adjusting for potential confounders. Notably, low ferritin levels remained associated with incident HF even after excluding subjects with anaemia (HR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.11-4.68; P = 0.03).

Conclusion: Derangements in iron metabolism, either low or high ferritin serum levels, were associated with higher risk of incident HF in a general population, even without concurrent anaemia. These findings suggest that iron imbalance might play a role in the development of HF.

Keywords: Ferritin; Heart failure; Iron deficiency; Iron overload.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood*
  • Heart Failure / blood*
  • Heart Failure / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Iron / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prospective Studies
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Ferritins
  • Iron