Have Changes in the Use of Anemia Drugs Affected Dialysis Patients’ Risk of Death and Cardiovascular Events?
American Society of Nephrology (ASN)A new study examines whether recent changes in the use of anemia drugs for patients on dialysis have contributed to changes in rates of death or cardiovascular events. The findings indicate that these risks appear to be decreasing for patients on dialysis as well as for older adults not on dialysis. These results suggest that recent trends in the use of anemia drugs in response to US Food and Drug Administration labeling changes and prospective payment for dialysis services have been either neutral or possibly beneficial for patients on dialysis.