DISCUSSION
In this retrospective cohort, we aimed to verify the existence of a
correlation between anemia and ventricular tachycardia outcomes in the
inpatient population. Anemia has a high prevalence in the
US12 and it is associated with poor outcomes in heart
diseases due to its hyperdynamic state13-16. Although
there are data on the relation
between anemia and heart failure and atrial
fibrillation7-9, its relation to ventricular
tachycardia lack evidence. In this study, authors used the national
inpatient sample from 2016 to 2020 to analyze the difference in outcomes
in patients with a primary diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia and
anemia compared with the general population.
Weidner K et al found in their study comparing the relation between
anemia and ventricular tachyarrhythmias an increase in the mortality
rate in patients with anemia17. It was a study with
2184 patients, retrospective, registry-based in patients who developed
ventricular tachyarrhythmia. In their study, length of stay, and total
hospital charges were not analyzed and neither anemias were classified
on subtypes. In our study the primary outcome of death had statistical
odds ratio of 1.95 with p < 0.001 for patients with any type
of anemia, they also stayed an average of 3.09 more days and had a cost
of an average of 61507.92 more dollars. Our mortality outcome is similar
to the one Weidner K et al had on their study. There is strong data
suggesting anemia is related to worse outcomes in patients with
ventricular tachycardia.
Although we aimed to analyze all types of anemia in this study, our
population was composed mostly of iron deficiency anemia, chronic
diseases anemia and other unspecified anemias. The results from other
subtypes might have been impacted by sample size.
This study has some limitations, firstly, the secondary diagnosis ICD 10
code can be misclassified at the time of putting it on the hospital
system. Secondary diagnosis also can be part of medical history instead
of an active problem, although anemia usually is a chronic condition,
some patients with resolved anemia could have it on the list as past
medical history. Several conditions can have anemia as consequence and
not all of them are considered when calculating the Charlson Comorbidity
Index to adjust the results making it a possible confounder. It is
important to do a prospective study in this subject for better
evaluation and also to see if treatment of anemia improves outcomes on
these patients.