High Erythropoiesis Resistance Index Is a Significant Predictor of Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality in Chinese Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

BACKGROUND: Renal anemia is a common complication of hemodialysis patients. Erythropoietin (EPO) hyporesponsiveness has been recognized as an important factor to poor efficacy of recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of renal anemia. More importantly, increased erythropoiesis resistance index (ERI) may be associated with inflammation and increased mortality. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to investigate correlated factors of EPO responsiveness and to clarify the relationships between EPO hyporesponsiveness and cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality among maintenance hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This prospective cohort study enrolled 276 maintenance hemodialysis patients for a 55-month follow-up to investigate the factors related to ERI and its relationship to all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: ERI was positively correlated with predialysis serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (r = 0.234, p < 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.134, p = 0.028), and ferritin (r = 0.155, p = 0.010) and negatively correlated with albumin (r = −0.206, p < 0.001) and creatinine (r = −0.232, p < 0.001). As multiple linear regression showed, predialysis serum albumin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, ferritin, and creatinine were independent correlated factors of ERI (p < 0.05). Kaplan–Meier curves showed that the cumulative incidences of both cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality were significantly higher in patients with ERI > 11.04 IU/kg/w/g/dL (both p < 0.01). The high ERI group was significantly associated with higher risk for all-cause mortality (OR 1.781, 95% CI 1.091 to 2.910, p = 0.021) and cardiovascular mortality (OR 1.972, 95% CI 1.139 to 3.417, p = 0.015) after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Predialysis serum albumin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, ferritin, and creatinine were independent correlated factors of EPO responsiveness among maintenance hemodialysis patients. Patients with higher ERI values had a higher all-cause mortality rate and cardiovascular mortality rate.