Anaemia management in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients: A multicentre prospective study in renal clinics

Background. Knowledge on anaemia management in nondialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD) patients regularly followed in renal clinics is scarce although being essential to identifying areas of therapeutic improvement. Methods. We prospectively evaluated anaemia management in two visits, performed 6 months apart, in 755 prevalent ND-CKD stage 3b-5 patients followed in 19 nephrology clinics from ≥6 months. Anaemia was defined as severe (Hb <11 g/dL) or mild (Hb: 11-13.5 in males and 11-12 g/dL in females); iron deficiency (ID) was defined as transferrin saturation (TSAT) <20% and/or ferritin <100 ng/mL. Primary endpoint was the change of anaemia and ID prevalence between baseline and 6-month visit. Secondary endpoint was the prevalence of clinical inertia to either ESA or iron supplementation, that is, the lack of ESA or iron prescription despite Hb