Anemia, iron metabolism, and anemia medication habits in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are different: a multicenter investigation

This study aimed to investigate anemia, iron metabolism status, and treatment in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Patients aged ≥ 18 years undergoing HD and PD were surveyed using a case report form to collect information.

Data were collected from 1071 patients undergoing HD and 630 undergoing PD at eight centers. Anemia was observed in 96.2% of the patients (96.7% for HD vs. 95.2% for PD, P = 0.121). Of these, 38.3% had hemoglobin (Hb) levels between 110 and 130 g/L (41.2% for HD vs. 33.3% for PD, P < 0.001), 22.8% had absolute iron deficiency (ID) (31.2% for HD vs. 8.4% for PD, P < 0.001), and 5.8% had functional ID (4.7% for HD vs. 7.6% for PD, P = 0.012). Among patients with Hb < 110 g/L, 13.0% received no treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs, all recombinant human erythropoietin) or hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHI, all roxadustat) (12.6% for HD vs. 13.6% for PD, P = 0.667), while 64.6% had no iron treatment (69.4% for HD vs. 57.4% for PD, P < 0.001). Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between dialysis mode and hemoglobin target achievement, suggesting that the attainment of hemoglobin targets may be associated with the use of ESAs or HIF-PHI.

Anemia, iron metabolism, and medication habits have distinct characteristics in patients undergoing HD and PD. Iron deficiency is prevalent, and achieving hemoglobin targets is suboptimal, possibly influenced by the administration of ESAs or HIF-PHI. Therefore, timely adjustments of medication habits are necessary to prevent anemia exacerbation.