The committee noted that while the point estimate showed a clinically important reduction in deaths, the confidence intervals around the absolute effect were wide, reducing their confidence in the effect estimate. The effect estimate suggested a clinically important reduction in hospitalisations also (130 fewer hospitalisations per 1000 people); the committee agreed that this appeared to represent a marked decrease. There was no clinical effect shown on exercise tolerance. In terms of adverse effects, there was no evidence of potential gastro- intestinal disturbance (difference against placebo was less than 50 per 1000 for discontinuation). The committee also agreed that the impact on systolic Chronic Heart Failure Treating Heart Failure NICE 2018. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights. ISBN: 978-1-4731-3093-7 blood pressure was not clinically significant. The committee was concerned by the apparent excess of ischaemic stroke in the IV iron arm, but noted that this was from only 2 occurrences in 1 study. On the basis of these findings the committee was uncertain that the benefits of IV iron had been completely demonstrated. Although there was some high (and low quality) evidence on quality of life, the committee agreed that this was not enough to support a recommendation when taking into account the uncertainty of the evidence on the other outcomes. The GC noted quality of life was a secondary endpoint in the trials and hospitalisations are the main outcome the study was powered for. 