Patient reported outcome measures and cardiovascular outcomes following high dose modern intravenous iron in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease: secondary analysis of ExplorIRON-CKD

Intravenous iron is commonly used to treat iron deficiency anemia in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD). There is a paucity of information on the potential impact of intravenous iron on patient reported outcome measures, functional status and markers of cardiovascular health. As part of the secondary analysis of this double-blind exploratory randomized controlled trial focusing on patients with iron deficiency (+ /− anemia) and ND-CKD (serum ferritin < 200 µg/L or transferrin saturation ≤ 20% and serum ferritin 200–299 µg/L; CKD stages: 3a-5), 26 patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive ferric derisomaltose or ferric carboxymaltose. Participants received 1000 mg at baseline and 500–1000 mg at one month to achieve iron repletion. Quality of life and fatigue status were assessed using the Short-Form (36) questionnaire and the fatigue severity scale. Functional status was evaluated using the Duke Activity Status Index and the 1-min-sit-to-stand test. Cardiac markers such as NT-proBNP, Troponin T and pulse wave velocity were monitored. Intravenous iron was associated with similar improvements in most domains of the Short-Form (36) questionnaire, fatigue status, and 1-min-sit-to-stand ability increased significantly by the end of the trial in both groups (p < 0.001). Markers of cardiac function remained stable, with no arterial stiffness impact. Longer term studies are required to further evaluate the impact of intravenous iron on quality of life and cardiac safety in patients with ND-CKD.