The Impact of Intravenous Iron on Renal Injury and Function Markers in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Iron Deficiency Without Anemia

In Reply to ‘Intravenous Iron, Inflammation, and Ventricular Dysfunction During Hemodialysis’

IntroductionIntravenous (IV) iron is the recommended treatment for patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) unresponsive to oral iron treatment, in whom oral iron is contraindicated, or where rapid iron replenishment is required. Ferric derisomaltose (FDI) and ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) are high-dose, rapid-infusion, IV iron formulations that have recently been compared in three head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which showed significantly higher incidence of hypophosphatemia after administration of FCM than FDI. The present study objective was to evaluate the cost–utility of FDI versus FCM in a population of patients with IDA in China.MethodsA previously-published patient-level simulation model was used to model the cost–utility of FDI versus FCM in China. The number of infusions of FDI and FCM was modeled based on the approved posology of the respective formulations using simplified tables of iron need in a population of patients with body weight and hemoglobin levels informed by a Chinese RCT of FCM. Data on the incidence of hypophosphatemia was obtained from the PHOSPHARE-IDA RCT, while data on disease-related quality of life were obtained from SF-36v2 data from the PHOSPHARE-IBD RCT.ResultsOver the 5-year time horizon, patients received 3.98 courses of iron treatment on average, requiring 0.90 fewer infusions of FDI than FCM (7.69 vs. 6.79). This resulted in iron procurement and administration cost savings of renminbi (RMB) 206 with FDI (RMB 3,519 vs. RMB 3,312). Reduced incidence of hypophosphatemia-related fatigue resulted in an increase of 0.07 quality-adjusted life years and further cost savings of RMB 782 over 5 years, driven by reduced need for phosphate testing and replenishment. FDI was therefore the dominant intervention.ConclusionsThe results showed that FDI would improve patient quality of life and reduce direct healthcare expenditure versus FCM in patients with IDA in China.

KDOQI US Commentary on the 2012 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Anemia in CKD

Aims Anemia is the most common extraintestinal complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with approximately half of cases caused by iron deficiency (ID). Intravenous iron is the preferred ID anemia (IDA) treatment where oral iron is contraindicated, ineffective or not tolerated, or where ID correction is urgent. The objective was to evaluate the cost-utility of ferric derisomaltose (FDI) versus ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in patients with IBD and IDA in England, in whom IV iron treatment is preferred. Materials and methods A patient-level simulation model was developed, capturing quality of life (QoL) differences based on SF-36v2 data from the PHOSPHARE-IBD randomized controlled trial, monitoring and incidence of post-infusion hypophosphatemia, and number of iron infusions required. Analyses were conducted over a five-year time horizon from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) perspective, with healthcare provider and societal perspectives adopted in separate analyses. Future costs and effects were discounted at 3.5% per annum and one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results FDI increased quality-adjusted life expectancy by 0.075 QALYs versus FCM from 2.57 QALYs to 2.65 QALYs per patient. Patients receiving FDI required 1.63 fewer iron infusions over the five-year time horizon, driving infusion-related cost savings of GBP 496 per patient (GBP 2,188 versus GBP 1,692) from the DHSC perspective. Costs of monitoring and treating hypophosphatemia after FCM were GBP 226, yielding total savings of GBP 722 per patient (GBP 2,414 versus GBP 1,692) over the five-year time horizon. FDI also led to reduced costs versus FCM in the societal and provider analyses and was therefore the dominant intervention across all three perspectives. Limitations The analysis did not capture patient adherence, hypophosphatemic osteomalacia, or fractures. Conclusions Results showed that FDI improved patient QoL and reduced direct healthcare expenditure versus FCM in patients with IBD and IDA in England.

The diagnostic trial of iron replacement therapy even in normocytic anaemia

Feasibility and efficiency of a preoperative anaemia walk-in clinic: secondary data from a prospective observational trial

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) is common among patients with heart failure (HF), and it is associated with poor functional outcomes, increased hospitalizations, and higher mortality. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in HF patients with ID. Methods: We conducted a literature search of major bibliographic databases up to April 15, 2025, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing FCM with placebo or standard care in HF patients with ID. The primary outcome was a composite of recurrent hospitalizations for heart failure (HHF) or cardiovascular (CV) death assessed at 1-year and complete follow-up. Risk ratios (RR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using a random-effects model. Results: Eleven RCTs (6,493 patients) were included in the review. FCM significantly reduced the composite of recurrent HHF or CV death at 1-year (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62–0.85) and over maximum follow-up (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68–0.94) compared to control. Recurrent HHF was significantly reduced with FCM administration (1-year RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.57–0.84; complete follow-up RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.60–0.94). FCM demonstrated a trend toward reduced all-cause (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74–1.00) and CV mortality at 1-year (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.72–1.02), but this effect was attenuated over longer follow-up. FCM significantly improved 6-minute walk test performance (MD 29.19 m, 95% CI 11.95–46.43). The trial sequential analysis confirmed robust evidence for the primary outcome. Conclusion: Intravenous FCM in HF patients is associated with reduced risk of adverse cardiovascular events and improved functional capacity. Further trials are needed to clarify its long-term survival impact.

Effects of Preoperative Intravenous Erythropoietin Plus Iron on Outcome in Anemic Patients After Cardiac Valve Replacement

EE254 A Cost-Utility Analysis of Ferric Derisomaltose Versus Ferric Carboxymaltose in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Italy

Background Anaemia is a common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with iron deficiency being the most common cause. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) can be treated with oral iron, but where oral administration is contraindicated, not tolerated, or proves to be ineffective, intravenous (IV) iron is the preferred treatment option, facilitating rapid iron replenishment. Ferric derisomaltose (FDI) and ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) are two high-dose, rapid-infusion, IV iron formulations that have recently been compared in three head-to-head randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with FCM administration resulting in significantly higher hypophosphataemia incidence versus FDI, and phosphate monitoring after repeat FCM infusions is now recommended in the FCM product information (PI). Between 2000 and 2020, Finland has seen the average incidence of IBD increase by 2.4% annually, accompanied by a commensurate increase in sequelae such as IDA. The objective of the present study was therefore to evaluate the cost-utility of FDI versus FCM in patients with IBD and IDA in Finland. Methods A published patient-level simulation model was used to evaluate the cost-utility of FDI versus FCM in Finland. The model captured quality of life differences based on SF-36 data from the PHOSPHARE-IBD RCT and differences in the number of FDI and FCM infusions required. A Finnish societal perspective was adopted and the analysis was conducted over a five-year time horizon. Unit costs were obtained from publicly available Finnish sources. Costs were reported in 2022 Euros and a discount rate of 3% per annum was applied to future costs and effects. Results Over the five-year time horizon, patients received 3.95 courses of iron treatment on average, requiring 1.63 fewer infusions of FDI than FCM (5.57 versus 7.20). This resulted in iron procurement and administration cost savings of EUR 471 with FDI versus FCM (EUR 2,286 versus EUR 2,757). Differences in health-related quality of life and the number of IV iron infusions resulted in an increase of 0.076 quality-adjusted life years with FDI versus FCM. Further cost savings of EUR 273 over five years were also realised with FDI versus FCM, driven by reduced need for phosphate testing (saving EUR 90) and reduced travel and productivity loss (saving EUR 183). Total cost savings were EUR 745 (Figure) and FDI was therefore the dominant intervention. Conclusion Relative to FCM, FDI resulted in improvements in quality-adjusted life expectancy in Finnish patients with IBD and IDA. FDI also resulted in cost savings, arising from reduced infusion frequency, phosphate monitoring, patient travel, and productivity loss. FDI therefore represents the dominant choice of IV iron in Finnish patients with IBD and IDA.

Intravenous (IV) administration of iron is considered a safe and efficacious treatment for iron deficiency anemia (IDA), recommended in patients requiring rapid replenishment of iron, or intolerant or unresponsive to oral administration of iron. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown high incidence of hypophosphatemia after administration of two IV iron preparations: saccharated ferric oxide (SFO) and ferric carboxymaltose (FCM). The present study aimed to conduct matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) of hypophosphatemia incidence with these iron formulations and ferric derisomaltose (FDI) based on data from head-to-head RCTs conducted in Japan. A MAIC of hypophosphatemia incidence was conducted on the basis of data from two head-to-head RCTs. The relative odds of hypophosphatemia with FDI versus SFO were obtained from patient-level data from a recent RCT and adjusted for cumulative iron dose, while parametric models of serum phosphate levels from a separate RCT were used to estimate the relative odds of hypophosphatemia with FCM with SFO. An anchored MAIC was then conducted comparing FDI with FCM. The adjusted odds of experiencing hypophosphatemia were significantly lower with FDI than SFO [odds ratio (OR) of 0.02; 95%confidence interval(CI) 0.01-0.05]. The parametric models of serum phosphate from the RCT comparing FCM with SFO provided an estimated OR of 1.17 for the incidence of hypophosphatemia with FCM versus SFO. Combining the two estimates in the MAIC showed that the odds of experiencing hypophosphatemia would be 52.5 (95%CI 27.7-99.4) times higher with FCM than FDI in patients with IDA associated with heavy menstrual bleeding in Japan. Direct comparison of patient-level data and a MAIC from two RCTs in Japanese patients with heavy menstrual bleeding indicated that hypophosphatemia is less frequent in patients treated with FDI than those with FCM or SFO. Results are in agreement with RCTs comparing FDI and FCM in patients with various etiologies conducted in the USA and Europe.

AimsThis analysis aims to evaluate the budget impact of intravenous iron therapy with ferric carboxymaltose for patients with systolic chronic heart failure and iron deficiency, from the perspective of the French public health insurance.Methods and resultsA budget impact model was adapted to forecast the budget impact over 5 years, according to two scenarios: one where patients receive ferric carboxymaltose according to market share forecast and another where patients are not treated for iron deficiency. Clinical data were extrapolated from pooled data from four randomized controlled trials. The time horizon was extended to 5 years by applying transition probabilities estimated from the CONFIRM‐HF trial. Epidemiological parameters for France were derived from the literature. Cost parameters were derived from national available databases.In the base case analysis, the modelled 5 year cost difference between the scenarios with ferric carboxymaltose vs. no iron deficiency treatment in a population of 189 334 prevalent and incident patients led to €0.8m savings. The cumulative savings resulted from a reduction in the hospitalization costs associated with worsening heart failure (€−35.8m) as well as a reduction in the follow‐up costs (€−2.9m). These cost savings outweighed the costs of ferric carboxymaltose treatment (€37.7m). Sensitivity analyses showed that the budget impact varied from €−34m to €+146m. Parameters with the most impact on the budget were the hospitalization rate for patients not treated for iron deficiency, the number of ambulatory sessions needed, the absence of hospitalization cost differentiation between New York Heart Association classes, and administration settings costs.ConclusionsIron deficiency treatment with ferric carboxymaltose in systolic chronic heart failure patients results in an improvement of New York Heart Association class and thereby increases the well‐being of the patients, while providing an overall cost saving for the French national health insurance.

Aim: To evaluate the economic efficiency of using ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (CHFrEF) and iron deficiency (ID) in the Russian Federation Methods: The analysis of the cost of maintaining CHFrEF with ID was carried out and an analytical decision-making model was built in MS Excel, which allows estimating the costs from the position of the state in the management of patients with CHFrEF with ID when using FCM in comparison with placebo. Results: The use of FCM in 633,301 patients with CHFrEF and ID for 1 year will prevent 72,386 hospitalizations for CHF and reduce the number of days spent by patients in the hospital by 1,136,141 days. Taking into account the direct costs of stopping adverse events, as well as the indirect costs of paying disability benefits and GDP losses, the potential economic benefit of using FCV when prescribing 633,301 CHFrEF and DJ to patients for 1 year can be 4.280 million rubles. per year of therapy. The use of FCM in patients with CHFrEF and ID is advisable immediately after an episode of CHF decompensation in order to reduce the risk of subsequent hospitalizations for worsening CHF and increase the cost per patient by only 4 642 rubles. per year (18 %), while significantly improving the prognosis of patients and their quality of life. Conclusion: FCM can be recommended for inclusion in the standards of medical care, clinical guidelines, formularies of healthcare facilities, application templates within the framework of the regional (RLO) and federal drug benefits, as well as federal and regional programs aimed at improving the control of the clinical course CHFrEF with ID.

ObjectiveIntravenous iron—a common treatment for anaemia and iron deficiency due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—can cause hypophosphataemia. This trial compared the incidence of hypophosphataemia after treatment with ferric carboxymaltose (FCM)...

Unanswered questions from the IRONMAN trial