Use of 12x/month haemoglobin monitoring with a computer algorithm reduces haemoglobin variability
Author Department
Medicine
Document Type
Article, Peer-reviewed
Publication Date
8-1-2010
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Haemoglobin variability may be associated with increased death. Frequent haemoglobin monitoring may allow earlier detection of trends in haemoglobin slopes, alerting staff to intercurrent events. The more frequent haemoglobin values may provide early evidence of response to erythropoietin (EPO) doses, and allow more appropriate anaemia management. Our objective is to assess whether frequent haemoglobin monitoring data (12x/month) using a computer algorithm (AMIE, Leeds, UK) will reduce haemoglobin variability compared with 1x/month monitoring. METHODS: We performed an observational case-control study of 44 unselected patients, comprising one dialysis facility measuring Crit-Line haemoglobin, lab haemoglobin, standard deviation of residuals as surrogate of haemoglobin variability and EPO dosing. RESULTS: Haemoglobin variability and 'percent in target haemoglobin range' significantly improved with 12x/month haemoglobin results using a computer algorithm. There was also a non-significant trend toward for lower EPO doses. CONCLUSION: Use of a computer algorithm to analyse 12x/month haemoglobin values provides early evidence of haemoglobin trends and allows more appropriate anaemia management, with decreased haemoglobin variability, lower EPO doses and more patients achieving target haemoglobin.
Publication ISSN
0884-8734
Recommended Citation
Ho WR, Germain MJ, Garb J, Picard S, Mackie MK, Bartlett C, Will EJ. Use of 12x/month haemoglobin monitoring with a computer algorithm reduces haemoglobin variability Nephrol Dial Transplant 2010 Aug;25(8):2710-4.