Importance of Initial Complete Parenteral Iron Repletion on Hemoglobin Level Normalization and Health Care Resource...

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia, and parenteral iron therapy is necessary in select patients. The objective of this analysis was to assess the impact of initial complete parenteral iron repletion on serum hemoglobin (Hgb) level normalization and on health care resource utilization in real-world practice.

Retrospective observational study.

Decision Resources Group Real-World Data Repository (United States databases).

A total of 2966 patients who had a baseline Hgb level below normal (< 12 g/dl for females and < 13.5 g/dl for males) and were treated with parenteral iron between March 2015 and February 2017.

The effect of receiving the required parenteral iron dose to replete the deficit, calculated by a modified Ganzoni formula, within 3 weeks of the first parenteral iron therapy claim (index date) on the likelihood of Hgb level normalization, was estimated by using logistic regression. All analyses were adjusted for sex, age, comorbidities, and use of prescription oral iron therapy. The adjusted mean numbers of all-cause inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, and emergency department (ED) visits within 6 months and 1 year after the index date were compared between patients with and without normalized Hgb levels by using negative binomial regression. Of the 2966 included patients, 33.9% received the required iron dose within 3 weeks of the index date, and 19.6%, 48.2%, and 53.9% had a normalized Hgb level within 8 weeks of the index date, within 1 year of the index date, and until the end of data availability, respectively. Patients who received the required iron dose within 3 weeks of the index date were significantly more likely to have a normalized Hgb level within 8 weeks of the index date and at any time during the study period than those who did not: adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) 2.67 (2.20, 3.24) and 2.33 (1.96, 2.77), respectively. Hgb level normalization within 1 year of the index date was associated with fewer inpatient admissions and outpatient visits and a similar number of ED visits compared with no Hgb level normalization 1 year after the index date.

The results of these analyses underscore the importance of initial complete parenteral iron repletion for rapidly improving clinical outcomes. Prompt achievement of a normalized Hgb level may also provide an opportunity to reduce health care resource utilization in patients with iron deficiency anemia receiving parenteral iron therapy.