Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of study population by need for higher-dose ESA
| ESA <6500 units/treatment (n=108) | ESA ≥6500 units/treatment (n=46) | |
|---|---|---|
| Abnormal hemoglobina | 19 (17.6%) | 14 (30.4%) |
| Age (years) | 60.3 (13.2) | 57.7 (15.3) |
| Sex | ||
| Male | 55 (50.9%) | 23 (50%) |
| Female | 53 (49.1%) | 23 (50%) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2)b | 27.9 (24.0, 33.3) | 26.0 (22.0, 30.7) |
| Hemoglobin (mg/dl) | 12.1 (0.9) | 11.4 (0.9) |
| Erythropoietin dose/treatment (units)b | 2677.9 (1511.3, 4051.9) | 10522.6 (8230.8, 14851.4) |
| Intravenous iron dose/treatment (mg)b | 9.5 (0, 16.6) | 16.0 (10.6, 23.6) |
| Interdialytic weight gain (kg)b | 2.54 (1.90, 3.20) | 2.60 (2.20, 3.5) |
| Number of treatmentsb | 39 (38, 40) | 38 (28, 39) |
| Missed treatments (% of prescribed)b | 0 (0, 2.6) | 2.5 (0, 16.2) |
| Days hospitalized/weekb,c | 0.09 (0.25) | 0.27 (0.44) |
| Dialysis vintage (years)b | 3.8 (1.6, 7.0) | 4.0 (2.1, 6.1) |
| Kt/V | 1.50 (0.28) | 1.56 (0.39) |
| Albumin (mg/dl) | 3.96 (0.29) | 3.80 (0.38) |
| Ferritin (ng/ml) | 743.7 (274.1) | 722 (278.0) |
| Iron saturation (%) | 33.3 (7.4) | 29.0 (7.6) |
| Phosphorus (mg/dl) | 5.4 (1.3) | 5.3 (1.6) |
| iPTH (pg/ml)b | 347.7 (223.1, 547.7) | 338.5 (261.0, 580.7) |
| Vascular access | ||
| Arteriovenous fistula | 51 (47.2%) | 17 (37.0%) |
| Arteriovenous graft | 38 (35.2%) | 14 (30.4%) |
| Indwelling catheter | 19 (17.6%) | 15 (32.6%) |
| Diabetes | 68 (63.0%) | 28 (60.9%) |
| History of smoking | 16 (14.8%) | 8 (17.4%) |
| History of alcohol abuse | 8 (7.4%) | 5 (10.9%) |
| History of GI bleed | 8 (7.4%) | 9 (19.6%) |
Abbreviations: ESA, erythropoiesis-stimulating agent; GI bleed, gastrointestinal bleeding; HbAC, hemoglobin C trait; HbAS, hemoglobin S trait; iPTH, intact parathyroid hormone.
a
Includes HbAS and HbAC.
b
Median (IQR).
c
Week defined as three dialysis treatments (all patients assigned to thrice weekly dialysis).