The first European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association CKD Anaemia Physician Behaviours Survey: key findings.

摘要

Anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Maintenance of stable hemoglobin (Hb) levels is necessary to effectively manage CKD anemia. The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) endorsed the present CKD Anaemia Physician Behaviours Survey conducted among nephrologists who regularly manage CKD patients. The survey included a total of 369 nephrologists from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, between May and June 2007. There were several aspects on which most of the nephrologists (independently of their country of origin) agreed, such as the complexity of managing anemia in patients with comorbidities - particularly, cardiovascular disease and diabetes - the target Hb levels of 11.00 to 12.99 g/dL and the advantages of the flexibility of weekly and monthly dosing. There was also agreement on the fact that most CKD patients are referred to a nephrologist at a late stage of the disease, which makes it difficult to start therapies to reduce morbidity and mortality. The more general implementation of routine glomerular filtration rate estimates in primary care, together with more education and awareness of CKD among primary health care providers, was considered necessary to improve the management of CKD patients.