{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Poor compliance with guidelines on anemia treatment in a cohort of chronic hemodialysis patients.
{Author}: van der Weerd NC;Grooteman MP;Blankestijn PJ;Mazairac AH;van den Dorpel MA;den Hoedt CH;Nubé MJ;Penne EL;van der Tweel I;Ter Wee PM;Bots ML; ;
{Journal}: Blood Purif
{Volume}: 34
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2012
{Factor}: 3.348
{DOI}: 10.1159/000338919
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Guidelines for the management of anemia and iron deficiency in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients have been developed to standardize therapy and improve clinical outcome. The present study evaluated compliance with anemia guidelines and investigated whether differences between centers were present.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Data on anemia management from patients in the baseline cohort of the CONTRAST study (NCT00205556) were analyzed. 598 chronic HD patients (62% male, age 63.6 ± 14.0 years) from 26 Dutch dialysis centers were included.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Mean hemoglobin (Hb) level was 11.9 ± 1.3 g/dl and Hb was ≥11.0 g/dl in 81% of the patients. Compliance with all anemia targets (Hb 11.0-12.0 g/dl, transferrin saturation ratio ≥20%, ferritin 100-500 ng/ml) was reached in 11.6% (95% CI 7.8-17.0) of the patients, with a wide range among centers (4-26%, adjusted for case mix, treatment-related factors and center-specific characteristics).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Compliance with anemia targets in stable HD patients was poor and showed a wide variation between treatment facilities.