Effect of darbepoetin alfa administered once monthly on maintaining hemoglobin levels in older patients with chronic kidney disease

Background: The anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased hospitalizations, increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and diminished quality of life in the elderly. Darbepoetin alfa is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that has been shown to be effective in treating anemia in patients with CKD (but not on dialysis) when administered using extended-dosing regimens. Objective: The purpose of this post hoc analysis was to examine the efficacy and safety profile of once-monthly (QM) darbepoetin alfa in study patients stratified according to age (ie