The Use of Anemia Control Model Is Associated with Improved Hemoglobin Target Achievement, Lower Rates of Inappropriate Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents, and Severe Anemia among Dialysis Patients

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The Anemia Control Model (ACM) is a certified medical device suggesting the optimal ESA and iron dosage for patients on hemodialysis. We sought to assess the effectiveness and safety of ACM in a large cohort of hemodialysis patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This is a retrospective study of dialysis patients treated in NephroCare centers between June 1, 2013 and December 31, 2019. We compared patients treated according to ACM suggestions and patients treated in clinics where ACM was not activated. We stratified patients belonging to the reference group by historical target achievement rates in their referral centers (tier 1: &lt;70%; tier 2: 70–80%; tier 3: &gt;80%). Groups were matched by propensity score. <b><i>Results:</i></b> After matching, we obtained four groups with 85,512 patient-months each. ACM had 18% higher target achievement rate, 63% smaller inappropriate ESA administration rate, and 59% smaller severe anemia risk compared to Tier 1 centers (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). The corresponding risk ratios for ACM compared to Tier 2 centers were 1.08 (95% CI: 1.08–1.09), 0.49 (95% CI: 0.47–0.51), and 0.64 (95% CI: 0.61–0.68); for ACM compared to Tier 3 centers, 1.01 (95% CI: 1.01–1.02), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.63–0.69), and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88–1.00), respectively. ACM was associated with statistically significant reductions in ESA dose administration. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> ACM was associated with increased hemoglobin target achievement rate, decreased inappropriate ESA usage and a decreased incidence of severe anemia among patients treated according to ACM suggestion.