Anemia in CKD: prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment. Case study of the anemic patient.
A point-in-time observational study was conducted in over 1,000 nephrology offices between November 1999 and December 2000 to determine the prevalence of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Trends in hemoglobin (Hb) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels were assessed among 4,831 evaluable patients to determine the relationship between renal function and anemia. Results demonstrated that anemia is common in patients with CKD, with progressive increases in prevalence and severity as renal function deteriorates. Overall, 26.3% of these patients had Hb levels below 10 g/dL, 46.7% had Hb levels below 11 g/dL, and 63.9% had Hb levels below 12 g/dL. Despite the high percent of patients with anemia, only 31.3% were being treated for this condition. These data suggest that anemia is prevalent and undertreated in patients with CKD. Nephrology nurses can be influential in providing proactive management of anemia throughout the spectrum of CKD to improve anemia-related outcomes.
Kammerer
Jean
J
Nephrology Medical Affairs Department at Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
Ratican
Michael
M
Elzein
Hafez
H
Mapes
Donna
D
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
D006454:Hemoglobins