Home-based iron infusion patient experience
Abstract:
Background & aims: To evaluate the safety and patient experience of a hospital-initiated home-based iron infusion service in patients with iron deficiency with or without anaemia.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study including adult patients who received intravenous iron via a ‘Hospital in The Home’ service in a single tertiary centre between August 2020 and August 2021. A chart review was conducted for documented adverse events. A telephone survey assessed patient acceptance with 3 questions on a 5-point Likert Scale: (1) How do you perceive the experience of having your infusion given in the home?, (2) Would you like to have the infusion in the same location if you require one in the future?, and (3) Do you feel safe having your infusion at home?.
Outcome measures: Percentage of patients experiencing adverse events and patient acceptance of a home-based iron infusion strategy.
Results: 197 patients were included (181 ferric carboxymaltose, 16 ferric derisomaltose). Six patients (3%; 2 of 181 patients who received ferric carboxymaltose compared with 4 of 16 patients who received ferric derisomaltose, p < 0.001, Fisher's exact) experienced adverse events, mostly headache and pruritus. Most patients who participated in the telephone survey had a positive experience (57/58 [98%]), felt safe (57/58 [98%]) and preferred future infusions to occur at home (52/58 [90%]).
Conclusions: A home-based iron infusion strategy was safe and well accepted by patients. Larger studies evaluating the safety profile of different iron formulations in the home setting are required.
Reference:
Liu D, Atienza E, Santamaria L, Sinnappu R, Garg M. Administration of intravenous iron via a home-based infusion strategy is safe and has high patient acceptance. Intern Med J. 2023 Mar 20. doi: 10.1111/imj.16075. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36938780.