Association of dialysis facility-level hemoglobin measurement and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent dose adjustment frequencies with dialysis facility-level hemoglobin variation: a retrospective analysis

作者：Khan Irfan^*; Krishnan Mahesh; Kothawala Anupam; Ashfaq Akhtar

来源：BMC Nephrology, 2011, 12: 22.

DOI：10.1186/1471-2369-12-22

Background: A key goal of anemia management in dialysis patients is to maintain patients' hemoglobin (Hb) levels consistently within a target range. Our aim in this study was to assess the association of facility-level practice patterns representing Hb measurement and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) dose adjustment frequencies with facility-level Hb variation.
Methods: This was a retrospective observational database analysis of patients in dialysis facilities affiliated with large dialysis organizations as of July 01, 2006, covering a follow-up period from July 01, 2006 to June 30, 2009. A total of 2,763 facilities representing 436,442 unique patients were included. The predictors evaluated were facility-level Hb measurement and ESA dose adjustment frequencies, and the outcome measured was facility-level Hb variation.
Results: First to 99th percentile ranges for facility-level Hb measurement and ESA dose adjustment frequencies were approximately once per month to once per week and approximately once per 3 months to once per 3 weeks, respectively. Facility-level Hb measurement and ESA dose adjustment frequencies were inversely associated with Hb variation. Modeling results suggested that a more frequent Hb measurement (once per week rather than once per month) was associated with approximately 7% to 9% and 6% to 8% gains in the proportion of patients with Hb levels within a +/- 1 and +/- 2 g/dL range around the mean, respectively. Similarly, more frequent ESA dose adjustment (once per 2 weeks rather than once per 3 months) was associated with approximately 6% to 9% and 5% to 7% gains in the proportion of patients in these respective Hb ranges.
Conclusions: Frequent Hb measurements and timely ESA dose adjustments in dialysis patients are associated with lower facility-level Hb variation and an increase in proportion of patients within +/- 1 and +/- 2 g/dL ranges around the facility-level Hb mean.

• 出版日期2011-5-20