This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
ESA use for pre-dialysis CKD more common in patients with high rates of death, CV events
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in patients with pre-dialysis CKD was rare and directed toward older, sicker patients who had high rates of death and cardiovascular events, according to a review of electronic health care records and claims data of a large managed care provider in the United States.
Researchers found rates of death and cardiovascular events were more prevalent in patients who used ESAs at baseline and in ESA naïve-patients vs. patients who did not use ESAs.
“In this study, we characterized anemia management and outcomes in a contemporary population of pre-dialysis stage three to five CKD patients,” the researchers wrote. “Among these patients, ESA treatment was rare: 109 out of 35,509 (0.3%) of all patients were being treated with ESA at baseline and only 266 began therapy from 2011 to 2013.”
Researchers also found patients treated with ESAs had a greater prevalence of comorbid diabetes, hypertension, heart failure and peripheral vascular disease. In addition, 761 patients with baseline Hb 8g/dL to 10 g/dL were not on ESA therapy “even though the treatment would not be inconsistent with product labeling.”
“Although it is not possible to rigorously identify individual Hb management goals, it is interesting that of the baseline ESA users, 72.4% had baseline Hb concentrations between 8 [g/dL] and 11 g/dL,” the researchers wrote. “Moreover, [more than] 75% of ESA naïves had Hb concentrations [less than] 10 g/dL.” – by Jake Scott
Disclosures: Healio Nephrology could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts