Low Hemoglobin Levels Related To Higher Mortality Rates In Dialysis Patients

Lori · Veteran Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 510

Recent research found that risk of death is increased in patients with anemia which is dialysis related when levels of hemoglobin are persistently low during several months. Researchers say that variations of hemoglobin levels are not so dangerous as persistently low amount of hemoglobin in a certain period of time. They used data from more than 150, 000 patients on dialysis to analyze the effect of hemoglobin variations on the mortality rates.

Hemoglobin is compound that has ability to carry oxygen through the blood. Anemia is a disorder which occurs when the levels of hemoglobin are extremely low and it represents one of the most common complications of kidney failure as well as the increased risk of death in dialysis patients.

During the study it was found that both group of patients who had low levels of hemoglobin were at increased risk of death no matter if they had temporary reduction of hemoglobin levels or persistently low hemoglobin. Still, risk of death was greater among patients who had low levels of hemoglobin most of the time. It was found that patients who had low levels of hemoglobin during three months had highest mortality rates.

Scientists agree that more research needs to be done in order to evaluate what causes variations of hemoglobin levels in dialysis patients.

Low Hemoglobin Levels Related To Higher Mortality Rates In Dialysis Patients

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