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Anemia in CKD: prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment. Case study of the anemic patient

Jean Kammerer1, Michael Ratican, Hafez Elzein

  • 1Nephrology Medical Affairs Department at Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.

Nephrology Nursing Journal : Journal of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association
|September 13, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Anemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, affecting over 60% with low hemoglobin. This prevalent condition is significantly undertreated, highlighting a need for better patient management.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Hematology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Anemia is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • Understanding the prevalence and treatment patterns of anemia in CKD is crucial for patient outcomes.

Observation:

  • A point-in-time observational study assessed anemia prevalence in 4,831 patients across over 1,000 nephrology offices.
  • Hemoglobin (Hb) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels were analyzed to correlate renal function with anemia severity.
  • Anemia prevalence and severity increased progressively as renal function declined in CKD patients.

Findings:

  • 63.9% of CKD patients had Hb levels below 12 g/dL, indicating widespread anemia.
  • Anemia was significantly undertreated, with only 31.3% of affected patients receiving treatment.
  • A strong relationship exists between deteriorating renal function and increased anemia prevalence and severity.

Implications:

  • Anemia is prevalent and undertreated across the spectrum of chronic kidney disease.
  • Nephrology nurses play a vital role in proactive anemia management in CKD patients.
  • Improved anemia management in CKD can lead to better patient-reported and clinical outcomes.

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