Short versus long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for anemia management in Egyptian hemodialysis patients
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often results in renal anemia, impacting the well-being of patients and causing various negative consequences. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) offer promising solutions for managing anemia in CKD. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness, safety profile, and cost-effectiveness of short-acting (Eprex ® ) and long-acting (Aranesp ® ) ESAs. Method: This comparative prospective cohort cost-effectiveness study was carried out over 6 months among adult Egyptian hemodialysis patients of either gender. Participants were categorized into two groups based on the type of ESA administered: the Eprex group, receiving epoetin alfa, and the Aranesp group, receiving darbepoetin alfa. These two treatment groups’ efficacy, safety, and cost were analyzed and compared. Results: Of 127 hemodialysis patients, 60 (47.2%) received Eprex, while 67 (52.8%) were treated with Aranesp. Target hemoglobin (Hb) was achieved by 50.6% of patients in the Eprex group versus 63.4% in the Aranesp group, with a significant difference ( P < 0.001). Both treatment groups exhibited a similar safety profile, while Aranesp ® was considered the cost-saving protocol. Conclusion: In hemodialysis Egyptian patients, Aranesp with extended dosing intervals proved to be more effective in achieving target Hb with comparable adverse effect profiles, a substantial cost-saving strategy, and offered time-saving advantages for medical staff workload compared to Eprex. Trial registration: The Clinicaltrial.gov registration ID is NCT05699109 (26/01/2023).
Source: Qatar medical journal
DOI: 10.5339/qmj.2024.16
Institutions: Helwan University, Al-Azhar University
Language: English
Subfield: Hematology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4393003282