Hematology and Oncology
Anemia in Oncology
March 2001
Clinical Focus*
- What are the relative effects on health outcomes of the three alternative strategies for managing anemia? When anemia is managed by initiating erythropoietin treatment at a specified threshold, what are the relative effects of alternative thresholds?
- Does the evidence suggest that the outcomes of any erythropoietin intervention are superior or inferior compared to others for correction of anemia? Is the type of epoetin intervention used likely to be a substantial confounding factor in the interpretation of the evidence on relative effects of alternative Hb thresholds for initiating epoetin?
- Are there populations or subgroups of patients that are more or less likely to benefit from erythropoietin treatment?
- What are the incidence and severity of adverse effects associated with the use of epoetin in patients being treated for malignancy and how do these compare with the adverse affects of alternative strategies?
- What are the financial costs of using epoetin to manage anemia in patients being treated for malignancy and how do these compare with the costs of alternative strategies?
*Addressed in the summary or evidence report.
Uses of Epoetin for Anemia in Oncology
Summary (Publication No. 01-E008, March 2001)
Evidence Report (Publication No. 01-E009, June 2001)
(File Download)
Selected Publications
EPC: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association TEC
Topic Nominators: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology
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