What was the baseline mean hemoglobin (Hb) level in the FAIR-HF trial?

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Last updated: December 27, 2025View editorial policy

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Baseline Mean Hemoglobin in FAIR-HF Trial

The baseline mean hemoglobin level in the FAIR-HF trial was approximately 10-12 g/dL, with patients enrolled having hemoglobin levels ≥12 g/dL or lower depending on iron deficiency status. 1

Specific Baseline Hemoglobin Data

The FAIR-HF trial enrolled patients with chronic heart failure and iron deficiency, with or without anemia. 1

Key baseline characteristics:

  • Patients were stratified based on anemia status, with enrollment including both anemic (hemoglobin <12 g/dL in women, <13 g/dL in men) and non-anemic patients with iron deficiency 2

  • The trial specifically included patients with mean baseline hemoglobin levels in the range of 10-12 g/dL, consistent with the enrollment criteria for heart failure patients with moderate anemia 1

  • Iron deficiency was defined as ferritin <100 ng/mL or ferritin 100-300 ng/mL with transferrin saturation <20%, which was the primary inclusion criterion rather than a specific hemoglobin threshold 1, 3

Clinical Context

The FAIR-HF trial demonstrated that 50% of patients treated with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose reported being much or moderately improved compared to 28% receiving placebo (odds ratio 2.51,95% CI 1.75-3.61), regardless of baseline anemia status 2

Important distinction: The trial's design focused on iron deficiency rather than anemia severity, allowing enrollment of patients with hemoglobin ≥12 g/dL who had iron deficiency, which differentiates it from earlier erythropoiesis-stimulating agent trials that required lower hemoglobin thresholds 1, 2

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Guideline

Iron Deficiency Treatment in Heart Failure

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Guideline

Iron Supplementation in Cardiac Amyloidosis

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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