title: The Australian Cancer Anaemia Survey: a snapshot of anaemia in adult patients with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the frequency and management of anaemia in Australian adults with solid and haematological malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  6-month observational, prospective, multicentre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  694 patients recruited from outpatient oncology clinics in 24 hospitals in five Australian states between 9 April 2001 and 31 July 2001.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of anaemia (haemoglobin [Hb] level < 120 g/L) at enrolment and over ensuing 6 months, by tumour type, disease status and cancer treatment; anaemia treatment and "trigger" Hb level for this treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants had median age 60 years, and 61% were women. Prevalence of anaemia at enrolment was 35% (199/562), with 78% of these 199 having mild anaemia (Hb, 100-119 g/L). Frequency of anaemia (either present at enrolment or developing during the study) was 57% overall (323/566), and varied with tumour type, from 49% (lymphoma/myeloma) to 85% (urogenital cancer). Patients who received radiotherapy either in combination or concomitant with chemotherapy were more likely to have anaemia (73%) than those receiving chemotherapy alone (58%) (P = 0.004). Of all chemotherapy patients not anaemic at enrolment, 23% developed anaemia by the second monthly follow-up. Independent predictors for anaemia in chemotherapy patients were low baseline Hb level (odds ratio [OR], 5.4; 95% CI, 2.7-10.9) and use of platinum chemotherapeutic agents (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 2.1-11.4) (P < 0.001). Anaemia was treated in 41% of patients with anaemia at enrolment--by transfusion (36%), iron (5%) and erythropoietic agents (2%). Frequency of anaemia treatment varied between tumour types, from 19% (breast cancer) to 60% (leukaemia). The mean "trigger Hb" for initiating transfusion was 95 g/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anaemia is prevalent among Australian patients with cancer managed in hospital oncology units. Its management varies between tumour types. Many patients do not receive treatment for their anaemia.
authors.affiliation: Peter MacCallum Centre, Melbourne, VIC.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seshadri
authors.forename: H Miles
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Coughlin
authors.forename: Philip P B
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chern
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Ian N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Olver
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karapetis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric