Management of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients: baseline findings from Chronic Kidney Disease Japan Cohort Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Anemia is a factor that affects the outcome of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, there are only a few reports on the management of anemia in Japanese patients with CKD who are not on dialysis.

METHODS:

We investigated the prevalence, related factors and management of anemia in CKD stage 3-5 patients in Japan based on the baseline data obtained from a prospective cohort study (Chronic Kidney Disease Japan Cohort). Anemia was defined as having a hemoglobin (Hb) level of <11 g/dL or receiving erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) therapy.

RESULTS:

The result indicated that 946 out of 2,930 patients had anemia. Of these 946 patients, 385 were receiving ESA treatment for anemia and had an Hb level of 10.28 ± 1.19 g/dL (mean ± SD). The percentage of these patients with an Hb level above the target of 11 g/dL proposed for treatment by the Japanese guidelines, and above the maintenance level of 10 g/dL approved for ESA therapy in Japan, was only 30.1 and 61.6%, respectively. In contrast, the percentage of patients receiving no ESA therapy was 67.6 and 55.7%, respectively, among those with an Hb level of <11 and <10 g/dL.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data suggested that prevalence of anemia was high in Japanese patients with CKD stage 3-5, that the percentage of patients receiving ESA was low among those who required ESA, and that a large number of patients receiving ESA failed to maintain the recommended level of Hb.

• Authors: Tadao Akizawa, Hirofumi Makino, Seiichi Matsuo, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Enyu Imai, Kosaku Nitta, Yasuo Ohashi, Akira Hishida, Chronic Kidney Disease Japan Cohort Study Group
• Journal: Clinical and experimental nephrology (Clin Exp Nephrol) Vol. 15 Issue 2 Pg. 248-57 (Apr 2011) ISSN: 1437-7799 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 21234785 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hematinics
• Hemoglobins

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anemia (etiology, therapy)
• Diabetic Nephropathies (complications)
• Female
• Glomerular Filtration Rate
• Hematinics (administration & dosage)
• Hemoglobins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Japan
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (complications, therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome