Predicting cancer-associated anaemia in patients receiving non-platinum chemotherapy: results of a retrospective survey

A 2-year retrospective chart survey of 1064 patients with colorectal, breas t, lung or ovarian cancer, Hodgkin's disease, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was conducted at 24 centres in France to determine the prevalence of anaemia ( haemoglobin (Hb) levels less than or equal to 120 g/l) and need for transfu sion in patients who received non-platinum-based chemotherapy for more than three cycles or 3 months. Baseline Hb levels documented anaemia in 37.1 % of patients (all tumour types). By cycle 3, the prevalence of anemia increa sed to 54.1 % of patients and remained over 50 % at cycle 4. At some time d uring chemotherapy 14.5 % of patients were transfused. Predictive risk fact ors for anaemia requiring transfusion included low baseline Hb, decrease in Hb during the first month of chemotherapy, primary tumour site, prior bloo d transfusions and duration of chemotherapy. By early identification of pat ients at the highest risk of developing anaemia, interventions such as epoe tin alfa can be employed to reduce or eliminate the need for transfusions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.