Can a simple iron infusion before heart surgery speed up recovery?

NCT ID NCT02632760

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Bayside Health Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tested whether giving an intravenous iron infusion to anemic patients before elective heart surgery helps them recover faster. Nearly 1,000 adults with anemia received either IV iron or a placebo 1 to 10 weeks before their surgery. The main goal was to see if the iron treatment increased the number of days patients were alive and out of the hospital within 90 days after surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Ferric carboxymaltose (IV iron)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could become a standard way to treat anemia before heart surgery, helping patients recover more quickly and spend less time in the hospital.
What could go wrong: This is a completed phase 4 trial, so results are already available. However, IV iron may not benefit all anemic patients and carries a small risk of allergic reactions or side effects.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anemia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ANAEMIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Alfred Health

Melbourne, Victoria, 3181, Australia

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