title: ORAMA: a study to investigate EBPG impact on renal anaemia - design and baseline data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is of paramount importance not only to publish anaemia management guidelines for chronic kidney disease (CKD) but also to verify their implementation in clinical practice. The Optimal Renal Anaemia Management Assessment (ORAMA) is the first European study investigating the impact of adherence to the 2004 revised European Best Practice Guidelines (EBPG) and its impact on patient outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participating centres were randomised into 2 groups: group A with, and group B without, access to an EBPG-based computerised clinical decision support (CDS) system after baseline. Patients with stage 2-5 CKD either anaemic (haemoglobin [Hb] <11 g/dL) or treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and/or iron supplementation were enrolled. Primary end points are based on achievement of anaemia-related guideline targets. Here, baseline data are reported descriptively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three centres in 8 countries included 739 patients, 81% of whom have received dialysis. Mean baseline Hb was 11.2 g/dL, and 52% of all patients met the EBPG target of >11 g/dL Hb at baseline. However, only 37% of patients had their Hb values >11 g/dL throughout a 3-month prestudy period. Serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were above the guideline target in circa 80% of patients. The vast majority of patients (96%) received ESA therapy at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In line with findings from previous studies ORAMA baseline data show that achievement of EBPG is suboptimal across European countries. Final results promise an insight into the impact of guideline-based CDS tools on clinical practice and target attainment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, A. Manzoni Hospital, Lecco - Italy. f.locatelli@ospedale.lecco.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Locatelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covic
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Macdougall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiecek
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins