1.
The effect of erythropoietin-stimulating agents on health-related quality of life in anemia of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Collister D, Komenda P, Hiebert B, Gunasekara R, Xu Y, Eng F, Lerner B, Macdonald K, Rigatto C, Tangri N
Annals of Internal Medicine. 2016;164((7):):472-8
Abstract
Background: The efficacy of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) for improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear. Purpose: To determine the effect of ESAs on HRQOL at different hemoglobin targets in adults with CKD who were receiving or not receiving dialysis. Data Sources: Searches of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 1 November 2015, supplemented with manual screening. Study Selection: Randomized, controlled trials that evaluated the treatment of anemia with ESAs, including erythropoietin and darbepoetin, targeted higher versus lower hemoglobin levels, and used validated HRQOL metrics. Data Extraction: Study characteristics, quality, and data were assessed independently by 2 reviewers. Outcome measures were scores on the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Kidney Dialysis Questionnaire (KDQ), and other tools. Data Synthesis: Of 17 eligible studies, 13 reported SF-36 outcomes and 4 reported KDQ outcomes. Study populations consisted of patients not undergoing dialysis (n = 12), those undergoing dialysis (n = 4), or a mixed sample (n = 1). Only 4 studies had low risk of bias. Pooled analyses showed that higher hemoglobin targets resulted in no statistically or clinically significant differences in SF-36 or KDQ domains. Differences in HRQOL were further attenuated in studies at low risk of bias and in subgroups of dialysis recipients. Limitation: Statistically significant heterogeneity among studies, few good-quality studies, and possible publication bias. Conclusion: ESA treatment of anemia to obtain higher hemoglobin targets does not result in important differences in HRQOL in patients with CKD. Primary Funding Source: KRESCENT and Manitoba Health Research Council Establishment.
2.
The cost effectiveness of erythropoietin-stimulating agents for treating anemia in patients on dialysis: a systematic review
Ferguson T, Xu Y, Gunasekara R, Lerner B, Macdonald K, Rigatto C, Tangri N, Komenda P
American Journal of Nephrology. 2015;41((2):):89-97.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anemia is a common complication associated with kidney failure and is marked by poor health and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. There are ongoing concerns with the use of Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESAs) to treat anemia in patients with kidney failure on dialysis. Questions as to their benefits, harms and overall effect on quality of life are still relevant today. Our objective was to systematically review studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of ESAs in patients with kidney failure on dialysis. METHODS We performed a systematic review of studies determining the cost-effectiveness of ESAs in adult patients on dialysis. Databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, were searched from their establishment until June 2013. Studies that reported an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of hemoglobin correction strategies based on ESA treatments in comparison to red blood cell transfusions, lower hemoglobin targets, or no ESA treatment were included. RESULTS Seven studies met inclusion criteria. Reported cost/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) ratios ranged from USD 931-677,749/QALY across five studies comparing ESAs to red blood cell transfusions. There was heterogeneity in results when considering higher hemoglobin targets, with studies finding higher targets to be both dominant and dominated. Mortality, hospitalization, and utility estimates were major drivers. CONCLUSIONS There is substantial variability in the estimates of the cost-effectiveness of using ESAs in the dialysis population. New models incorporating recent meta-analyses for estimates of utility, mortality, and hospitalization changes would allow for a more comprehensive answer to this question. 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.