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Abstract: TH-PO953

Red Blood Cell Transfusion Rates in the Early Dialysis Period: Comparing Hemodialysis (DOPPS) and Peritoneal Dialysis (PDOPPS) in an International Setting

Session Information

Category: Anemia and Iron Metabolism

  • 200 Anemia and Iron Metabolism

Authors

  • Karaboyas, Angelo, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • Tu, Charlotte, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
  • Richards, Anna, GSK plc, Brentford, United Kingdom
  • Hunnicutt, Jake N., GSK, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Pham, Timothy, GSK, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, United States
  • Schaeffner, Elke, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Asgari, Elham, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, London, United Kingdom
  • Lopes, Antonio Alberto, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
  • Perl, Jeffrey, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Pecoits-Filho, Roberto, Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Background

The transition to dialysis is a period of clinical instability during which red blood cell transfusion (RBCT) use may be indicated. Given key differences in pre-dialysis nephrologist care and anemia management between patients who initiate hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD), patterns in RBCT rates in the early dialysis period should be investigated.

Methods

We used data from 22,643 in-center HD patients from 20 countries in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) phases 5–7 (2012–2022) and 3557 PD patients from 6 countries in the Peritoneal DOPPS (PDOPPS) phase 1 (2014-2018). In these prospective cohort studies, RBCT receipt (yes/no) was prospectively captured each month, with rates presented by time since dialysis initiation (vintage).

Results

Hemoglobin levels measured within 30 days after dialysis initiation were lower in HD (mean 9.5; 37% <9 g/dL) vs. PD (mean 10.8; 12% <9 g/dL) patients. The RBCT rate (per 100 patient-years) was 74.0 during the first 90 days of HD vs. 12.7 during the first 90 days of PD. After 90 days, RBCT rates were very similar in the HD (21.0) vs. PD (20.8) populations. These patterns – relatively lower RBCT rates during the early PD period but higher RBCT rates during the early HD period – were consistently observed across countries, with rates generally stabilizing after the first 9–12 months of dialysis (Figure 1).

Conclusion

Using uniform and standardized RBCT capture across countries and modalities, this study showed high RBCT rates in the first few months of HD, but not PD, therapy, likely reflecting differences in patient profiles. When considering the short-term and long-term risks of RBCT, awareness of this relationship may help inform anemia management before, during, and after this important transition period to reduce the need for RBCT intervention.

Funding

  • Commercial Support – This manuscript was directly supported by GSK. Global support for the ongoing DOPPS Programs is provided without restriction on publications by a variety of funders. For details see https://www.dopps.org/AboutUs/Support.aspx. As of May 5, 2023, the DOPPS program is supported by Amgen Inc. (since 1996, founding sponsor); Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.; Astellas Pharma Inc.; Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.; Baxter Healthcare Corp; Bayer AG & Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd; Cara Therapeutics, Inc.; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., LTD; GlaxoSmithKline LLC; Japanese Society for Peritoneal Dialysis; JMS Co., Ltd; Kidney Foundation Japan; Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd; Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (since 1999 for Japan DOPPS); Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp; Nikkiso Co., Ltd.; ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd; Terumo Corporation; Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd; CSL-Vifor, Ltd.