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Efficacy of quadruple treatment on different types of pre-operative anaemia: secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial

Rössler J, Hegemann I, Schoenrath F, Seifert B, Kaserer A, Spahn GH, Falk V, Spahn DR

Anaesthesia, 2020

253 participants

Abstract

In patients with pre-operative anaemia undergoing cardiac surgery, combination treatment with intravenous iron, subcutaneous erythropoietin alpha, vitamin B12 and oral folic acid reduces allogeneic blood product transfusions. It is unclear if certain types of anaemia particularly benefit from this treatment. We performed a post-hoc analysis of anaemic patients from a randomised trial on the 'Effect of ultra-short-term treatment of patients with iron deficiency or anaemia undergoing cardiac surgery'. We used linear regression analyses to examine the efficacy of a combination anaemia treatment compared with placebo on the following deficiencies, each representing a part of the combination treatment: ferritin and transferrin saturation; endogenous erythropoietin; holotranscobalamine; and folic acid in erythrocytes. Efficacy was defined as change in reticulocyte count from baseline to the first, third and fifth postoperative days and represented erythropoietic activity in the immediate peri-operative recovery phase. In all 253 anaemic patients, iron deficiency was the most common cause of anaemia. Treatment significantly increased reticulocyte count in all regression analyses on postoperative days 1, 3 and 5 (all p < 0.001). Baseline ferritin and endogenous erythropoietin were negatively associated with change in reticulocyte count on postoperative day 5, with an unstandardised regression coefficient B of -0.08 (95%CI -0.14 to -0.02) and -0.14 (95%CI -0.23 to -0.06),…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a secondary / pooled analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 253 participants or records.

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