title: Prevalence and management of anaemia in patients with non-myeloid cancer undergoing systemic therapy: a Spanish survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to provide updated data on anaemia prevalence and management in cancer patients undergoing systemic therapy in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study performed in 2008. Eligible patients were ≥18 years, with non-myeloid malignancies treated with systemic therapy [chemotherapy (CT), hormonal therapy or immunotherapy]. Anaemia was defined according to WHO as haemoglobin (Hb) < 12 g/dL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 214 patients with a median age of 63 years (range 20-91), 58 % women, 73 % with solid tumours, and 79 % with advanced disease. CT was used in 91 % of patients (26 % with platinum compounds), hormonal therapy in 8.5 %, and immunotherapy in 8.5 %. In our study, 48.1 % of patients [95 % confidence interval (CI) 45.2-58.6] showed anaemia (31 % symptomatic): 42.0 % mild (10 ≤ Hb ≤ 11.9 g/dL), 5.6 % moderate (8 ≤ Hb ≤ 9.9 g/dL), and 0.5 % severe (Hb < 8 g/dL). A higher prevalence was observed in patients treated with CT (51 vs. 20 %, p = 0.01), platinum-based CT (70 vs. 47 %, p = 0.01) or palliative CT (61 vs. 39 %, p = 0.003). Anaemia was also more frequent in patients with more than three lines of CT (83 %) and in the fourth or subsequent CT cycle (58 %). Management in the previous 4 weeks in patients with anaemia was: 62 % did not receive treatment (92 % mild), 24 % received erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), 14 % received iron and 8.7 % received transfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Spanish hospitals, about half of patients with non-myeloid malignancies undergoing systemic therapy fulfilled anaemia criteria (87 % mild). Approximately two-third of patients with anaemia do not receive specific treatment and ESA use is below current guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Hematología, Hematology Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS-IP), Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Diego de Leon, 62, 28006, Madrid, Spain. jlsteegmann.hlpr@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Steegmann
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez Torres
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colomer
authors.forename: Á
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jalón
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Provencio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Martín
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics