Objective To analyze the incidence of anemia and its effect on the mortality of the patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) retrospectively. Methods A total of 481 CHF patients admitted in our department from January 2006 to October 2015 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into groups Ⅰ-Ⅳaccording to their cardiac function by New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification. They were also assigned into 6 groups based on hemoglobin (Hb) level, that is, <80, 80-99, 100-119, 120-139, 140-159, and >160 g/L group. Their laboratory parameters and prognoses were analyzed and compared among the different groups. Results (1) With the increasing severity of heart failure (from the NYHA Class Ⅰ to Ⅳ), the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), Hb level, and hematocrit (HCT) were significantly decreased, but serum creatinine (SCr) and the incidence of anemia were significantly increased. Significant differences were observed among the intra- groups (P<0. 05). (2) There were obvious differences in age, proportion of severe heart failure (NYHA Class Ⅲ and Ⅳ), LVEF and mortality between the anemia group and non- anemia group (P<0.05). (3) SCr level was the lowest in the patients with Hb of 120-139 g/L (P<0.01), and hospital mortality was the lowest in the patients with Hb of 140-159 g/L (2. 4%, P<0.01). (4) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the cardiac function classification, age, SCr and LVEF were the risk factors for hospital mortality, but Hb was the protective factor. Conclusion CHF patients complicated with anemia are commonly in severe condition and associated with high mortality. Therefore, clinicians should actively treat heart failure and correct anemia at the same time in order to improve the prognosis of the patients.