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. 2024 Mar 11;2024(1):16.
doi: 10.5339/qmj.2024.16. eCollection 2024.

Short versus long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for anemia management in Egyptian hemodialysis patients

Amira Elsawy Soliman  1 , Salma Magdy  1 , Hazem Sayed Ayoub  2 , Abdel-Hameed Ibrahim Ebid  1
Affiliations

Short versus long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for anemia management in Egyptian hemodialysis patients

Amira Elsawy Soliman et al. Qatar Med J. .

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often results in renal anemia, impacting the well-being of patients and causing various negative consequences. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) offer promising solutions for managing anemia in CKD. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness, safety profile, and cost-effectiveness of short-acting (Eprex®) and long-acting (Aranesp®) ESAs.

Method: This comparative prospective cohort cost-effectiveness study was carried out over 6 months among adult Egyptian hemodialysis patients of either gender. Participants were categorized into two groups based on the type of ESA administered: the Eprex group, receiving epoetin alfa, and the Aranesp group, receiving darbepoetin alfa. These two treatment groups' efficacy, safety, and cost were analyzed and compared.

Results: Of 127 hemodialysis patients, 60 (47.2%) received Eprex, while 67 (52.8%) were treated with Aranesp. Target hemoglobin (Hb) was achieved by 50.6% of patients in the Eprex group versus 63.4% in the Aranesp group, with a significant difference (P < 0.001). Both treatment groups exhibited a similar safety profile, while Aranesp® was considered the cost-saving protocol.

Conclusion: In hemodialysis Egyptian patients, Aranesp with extended dosing intervals proved to be more effective in achieving target Hb with comparable adverse effect profiles, a substantial cost-saving strategy, and offered time-saving advantages for medical staff workload compared to Eprex.

Trial registration: The Clinicaltrial.gov registration ID is NCT05699109 (26/01/2023).

Keywords: Short-/long-acting ESAs; anemia; chronic renal failure; hemodialysis; pharmacoeconomics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Study flow chart.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mean Hb levels change in both treatment groups over the 6-month study period.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Comparison of baseline and after 6 months Hb levels.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The effectiveness plane.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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