Perspectives on Intravenous Iron Therapy Logistics and Adherence: Results from a Patient Survey

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects approximately 5 million people in the United States (US), significantly impacting quality of life (QoL) and overall health. Iron stores can be replenished through oral iron or, if ineffective/poorly tolerated, through intravenous iron (IVI) therapy. Despite IVI effectiveness, patients do delay/miss infusion appointments, leading to incomplete treatment response. Here we evaluated multiple-dose IVI therapy logistics and adherence from the patient perspective.

US adult patients (≥18 years) with confirmed IDA who were currently prescribed an IVI treatment course were asked to respond to a 46-question online survey in early 2023. Questions covered patient demographics, appointment logistics, IVI infusion experience, impact of infusion on daily activities, reason(s) for missing any doses, and considerations for improving adherence.

A total of 323 patients completed the survey, 193 of whom were prescribed ≥2 IVI infusions per month. Of these patients, 71/193 (36.8%) reported missing at least one dose, despite its effectiveness at improving symptoms. Most patients (122/193 [64.3%]) agreed that multiple-dose IVI therapy adversely impacted their QoL by reducing their productivity (63.4%) and attendance at important events (64.8%), with 80.3% reporting having to schedule their life around therapy. A third of patients (73/193 [38.1%]) were unsatisfied with their infusion frequency, with most (163/193 [84.5%]) agreeing that fewer IVI infusions would improve adherence, and most also (174/193 [90.1%]) preferring a single-dose option if available.

Time spent arranging and receiving multiple IVI infusions per month can interfere with patients' daily activities, leaving them dissatisfied with their IVI treatment experience. In this study, single-dose IVI infusions were a preferred option for patients with IDA, which may improve adherence to the complete course of treatment and offer improved QoL. Therefore, patient preference, convenience, and satisfaction should be considered and discussed when determining the type of IVI treatment.