BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The common finding that low achieved hemoglobin in observational studies and high target hemoglobin in randomized trials each were associated with increased mortality and high epoetin dosage has suggested the possibility that high epoetin dosage might explain the increased mortality risk. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We considered data from 18,454 patients who were >or=65 yr, were in the US Renal Data System, started hemodialysis in 2003, and survived 3 mo on dialysis. We estimated the association between cumulative average epoetin dosage and survival through the subsequent 9 mo by using inverse probability weighting to adjust for time-dependent confounding by indication. RESULTS: Survival was similar throughout the entire follow-up period for the three hypothetical treatment regimens selected: Low dosage 15,000 U/wk, medium dosage 30,000 U/wk, and high dosage 45,000 U/wk. Compared with a cumulative average dosage of 20,000 to 30,000 U/wk, the estimated hazard ratio (HR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) was 0.90 (0.52 to 1.54) for <10,000, 0.84 (0.67 to 1.05) for 10,000 to <20,000 U/wk, 0.96 (0.76 to 1.21) for 20,000 to <40,000 U/wk, and 0.91 (0.67 to 1.22) for >40,000 U/wk. In contrast, conventional unweighted models, which do not adequately adjust for time-dependent confounding by indication, indicated an association between high cumulative average epoetin dosage and increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that, on average, epoetin dosages >30,000 U/wk do not confer additional harm or benefit in elderly hemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The common finding that low achieved hemoglobin in observational studies and high target hemoglobin in randomized trials each were associated with increased mortality and high epoetin dosage has suggested the possibility that high epoetin dosage might explain the increased mortality risk. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We considered data from 18,454 patients who were >or=65 yr, were in the US Renal Data System, started hemodialysis in 2003, and survived 3 mo on dialysis. We estimated the association between cumulative average epoetin dosage and survival through the subsequent 9 mo by using inverse probability weighting to adjust for time-dependent confounding by indication. RESULTS: Survival was similar throughout the entire follow-up period for the three hypothetical treatment regimens selected: Low dosage 15,000 U/wk, medium dosage 30,000 U/wk, and high dosage 45,000 U/wk. Compared with a cumulative average dosage of 20,000 to 30,000 U/wk, the estimated hazard ratio (HR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) was 0.90 (0.52 to 1.54) for <10,000, 0.84 (0.67 to 1.05) for 10,000 to <20,000 U/wk, 0.96 (0.76 to 1.21) for 20,000 to <40,000 U/wk, and 0.91 (0.67 to 1.22) for >40,000 U/wk. In contrast, conventional unweighted models, which do not adequately adjust for time-dependent confounding by indication, indicated an association between high cumulative average epoetin dosage and increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that, on average, epoetin dosages >30,000 U/wk do not confer additional harm or benefit in elderly hemodialysis patients.
Authors: Diane L Frankenfield; Sheila H Roman; Michael V Rocco; Marjorie R Bedinger; William M McClellan Journal: Kidney Int Date: 2004-04 Impact factor: 10.612
Authors: Michael Henke; Roland Laszig; Christian Rübe; Ulrich Schäfer; Klaus-Dieter Haase; Burkhard Schilcher; Stephan Mose; Karl T Beer; Ulrich Burger; Chris Dougherty; Hermann Frommhold Journal: Lancet Date: 2003-10-18 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Glenn M Chertow; Jiannong Liu; Keri L Monda; David T Gilbertson; M Alan Brookhart; Anne C Beaubrun; Wolfgang C Winkelmayer; Allan Pollock; Charles A Herzog; Akhtar Ashfaq; Til Sturmer; Kenneth J Rothman; Brian D Bradbury; Allan J Collins Journal: J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2016-02-25 Impact factor: 10.121
Authors: Daniel G Wright; Elizabeth C Wright; Andrew S Narva; Constance T Noguchi; Paul W Eggers Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2015-09-10 Impact factor: 8.237
Authors: Ouhong Wang; Ryan D Kilpatrick; Cathy W Critchlow; Xiang Ling; Brian D Bradbury; David T Gilbertson; Allan J Collins; Kenneth J Rothman; John F Acquavella Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2009-12-17 Impact factor: 8.237