Symptoms specific to anemia may be difficult to discern from those of progressive CKD due to their similarities ( 9), contributing to confounding patient perceptions, clinician diagnosis, and treatment decisions, as well as communication between patients and healthcare providers (HCPs). While anemia is common in patients with CKD, patients may be unaware of the association between CKD and anemia ( 8). There is also a need for renal centers to standardize and individualize anemia management in patients with CKD ( 7). Appropriate anemia management can improve patient outcomes, as demonstrated in the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp Therapy (TREAT) study fatigue scores improved for patients receiving treatment targeted to higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels compared with the control group receiving treatment targeted to lower Hb levels ( 6). Anemia in CKD is associated with increased risk of hospitalizations, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and mortality ( 5). Anemia is a common complication of CKD of the approximate 37 million patients with CKD in the US ( 3), nearly 5 million have anemia ( 4). This increase may be attributed to increases in risk exposure, particularly type 2 diabetes (the leading factor associated with CKD in the US), hypertension, obesity, and an ageing population ( 1, 2). The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States (US) is increasing ( 1). Results emphasize a lack of disease awareness, suggesting patients would benefit from further education on anemia in CKD. In the US, patients with anemia and CKD perceived that anemia had a negative impact on physical health and emotional wellbeing. Despite 67.4% of patients with anemia believing their condition was well/very well managed, only 50% reported being informed about different treatments without prompting healthcare providers. In the anemia cohort, 46.3% of patients were aware of their hemoglobin level, versus 27.2% in the non-anemia cohort. In patients with anemia, 71.0% were aware of the relationship between CKD and anemia versus 52.9% in the non-anemia cohort. Of 446 patients included, 255 (57.2%) were diagnosed with anemia and 191 (42.8%) were in the non-anemia cohort. This study investigated knowledge and awareness of anemia in patients with CKD in the United States (US) through an online, quantitative survey administered to patients aged ≥18 years with self-reported CKD, with or without anemia. Anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with reduced health-related quality of life and physical functioning.
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