Table 2. Patient characteristics by hematocrit (Hct) target strategies (USRDS 2006-2008).
| Low Hct only | Mid Hct only | Both | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,395 | 7,439 | 9,640 | |
| % | |||
| Patient Demographics | |||
| Age (years) | |||
| 65-<70 | 26.9 | 25.7 | 26.8 |
| 70-<75 | 27.4 | 26.5 | 26.4 |
| 75-<80 | 23.2 | 23.8 | 23.4 |
| ≥80 | 22.4 | 23.9 | 23.4 |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 49.3 | 48.6 | 49.7 |
| Female | 50.7 | 51.4 | 50.3 |
| Race | |||
| White | 69.2 | 70.8 | 69.9 |
| Black | 25.2 | 24.2 | 25.2 |
| Other/Unknown | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Patient Clinical History | |||
| Total inpatient days | |||
| 1 to 4 | 10.3 | 10.8 | 10.8 |
| 5 to 9 | 21.4 | 20.7 | 21.8 |
| ≥10 | 40.8 | 39.5 | 37.2 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | |||
| <23.0 | 18.0 | 17.8 | 18.2 |
| 23.0-<26.6 | 21.6 | 21.9 | 23.1 |
| 26.6-<31.3 | 28.1 | 27.7 | 27.7 |
| ≥31.3 | 32.3 | 32.6 | 31.0 |
| Charlson index | |||
| <3 | 12.8 | 11.2 | 11.3 |
| 3-<6 | 30.9 | 27.7 | 28.8 |
| 6-<8 | 25.1 | 26.9 | 26.6 |
| ≥8 | 31.2 | 34.3 | 33.3 |
| Currrent smoker | |||
| No | 96.9 | 97.1 | 96.8 |
| Yes | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| Alcohol/drug dependence | |||
| No | 99.6 | 99.6 | 99.5 |
| Yes | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Other severe conditionsa | |||
| No | 87.5 | 86.3 | 87.4 |
| Yes | 12.5 | 13.7 | 12.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | |||
| No | 87.1 | 86.9 | 87.6 |
| Yes | 12.9 | 13.1 | 12.4 |
| Anemia Management | |||
| Predialysis ESA use | |||
| Yes | 34.9 | 34.8 | 32.7 |
| No/Unknown | 65.1 | 65.2 | 67.3 |
| Predialysis hematocrit (%) | |||
| < 30 | 20.9 | 19.1 | 20.4 |
| 30 - < 33 | 26.9 | 25.1 | 26.5 |
| 33 - < 36 | 26.2 | 26.5 | 26.4 |
| ≥36 | 26.0 | 29.2 | 26.7 |
| Average epoetin dose (units/admin)∼ | |||
| <2,500 | 26.7 | 34.5 | 26.8 |
| 2,500-<4,000 | 27.7 | 28.2 | 28.5 |
| 4,000-<6,000 | 23.1 | 21.1 | 24.5 |
| ≥6,000 | 22.6 | 16.2 | 20.3 |
| Average iron dose (mg/wk)∼ | |||
| <100 | 27.6 | 32.4 | 25.5 |
| 100-<150 | 26.2 | 25.4 | 25.7 |
| 150-<200 | 22.7 | 21.6 | 24.9 |
| ≥200 | 23.6 | 20.7 | 23.8 |
| Average hematocrit (%) ∼ | |||
| 30.1 - < 33 | 39.1 | 30.9 | 26.7 |
| 33 - < 36 | 28.4 | 33.0 | 21.8 |
| 36 - < 39 | 25.7 | 24.0 | 23.3 |
| ≥39 | 6.8 | 12.2 | 28.1 |
| Facility Characteristics | |||
| Region | |||
| Northeast (Networks 1-5) | 25.6 | 25.2 | 24.3 |
| Southeast (Networks 6-8, 13, 14) | 35.9 | 35.9 | 34.8 |
| Midwest (Networks 9-12) | 22.2 | 23.7 | 24.8 |
| West (Networks 15-18) | 16.2 | 15.3 | 16.1 |
| Chain membership | |||
| Davita | 25.5 | 25.9 | 27.5 |
| Fresenius | 31.5 | 37.0 | 37.0 |
| DCI | 3.4 | 4.2 | 3.0 |
| Medium-size Chain | 9.3 | 7.4 | 9.4 |
| Small chain/Nonchain | 30.4 | 25.5 | 23.1 |
Note: Low Hct Strategy: treatment with epoetin alfa to target hematocrt value 30.0 - < 34.5 %
Mid Hct Strategy: treatment with epoetin alfa to target hematocrt value 34.5 - < 39.0 %
∼
During first 3 months of dialysis before baseline.
a
Include amputation, inability to ambulate, and inability to transfer