Iron supplementation for anemia after hip fracture surgery: a randomized trial of 300 patients.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if oral iron therapy (ferrous sulfate) is beneficial for treating anemia after hip fracture surgery.
Results Summary
Iron therapy resulted in a slightly higher mean hemoglobin rise (21 g/L vs. 18 g/L) compared to no iron, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). No significant differences were found in hospital stay length or mortality, and 17% of iron-treated patients reported adverse effects.
Population
300 patients with post-hip fracture surgery anemia (hemoglobin <110 g/L).
Effective Dosage
28-day course of ferrous sulfate (specific dosage not mentioned).
Duration
28 days.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ferrous sulfate therapy | increase | hemoglobin levels | patients with a hemoglobin level of <110 g/L after treatment for a hip fracture | 21 g/L | mean rise | #1 |
no iron therapy | increase | hemoglobin levels | patients with a hemoglobin level of <110 g/L after treatment for a hip fracture | 18 g/L | mean rise | #2 |
iron therapy | no change | length of hospital stay | patients with a hemoglobin level of <110 g/L after treatment for a hip fracture | no significant difference | no significant difference | #3 |
iron therapy | no change | mortality rate at one year | patients with a hemoglobin level of <110 g/L after treatment for a hip fracture | no significant difference | no significant difference | #4 |
iron therapy | neutral | adverse effects of the medication | patients who were allocated to iron therapy | Seventeen percent | reported adverse effects | #5 |
iron therapy | no change | anemia associated with a hip fracture | - | - | had no clinically relevant benefit | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Anemia as a consequence of surgery is often treated with iron therapy. The evidence base for this practice is limited. To determine if oral iron therapy is beneficial for the treatment of anemia after surgery for the treatment of a hip fracture, we undertook a prospective, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Three hundred patients with a hemoglobin level of <110 g/L after treatment for a hip fracture were randomized to receive either a twenty-eight-day course of ferrous sulfate therapy or no iron therapy. Hemoglobin levels were measured at six weeks after surgery. The length of the hospital stay and the mortality rate at one year were compared between groups. RESULTS: The mean rise in hemoglobin levels six weeks after discharge from the hospital was 21 g/L in the iron group, compared with 18 g/L in the no-iron group (p = 0.07). There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the length of hospital stay or the mortality rate. Seventeen percent of the patients who were allocated to iron therapy reported adverse effects of the medication. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that iron therapy had no clinically relevant benefit when used to treat anemia associated with a hip fracture.