Hematocrit Values in the CAPD/CCPO Population: A Report of the National CAPO Registry

A survey of the National CAPD Registry population was conducted to assess the distribution of hematocrit levels in a large group of peritoneal dialysis patients, to characterize the anemia of the population, and identify factors which relate to variation in hematocrit levels. A random sample of 812 patients was selected from the Registry population. Information was provided on 608 patients. Characteristics of sampled patients were similar to the Registry population as a whole. The mean hematocrit level in this cohort was 29.4% and the median was 29%. Recent peritonitis, time on CAPD, folate therapy, androgen therapy, and iron therapy had no obvious influence on hematocrit distributions. Significantly higher hematocrits were seen in males, whites, and patients with polycystic kidney disease. Significantly lower hematocrits were seen in surgically anephric patients and in patients who had received transfusions 60 days before the survey. Eighty-nine percent of patients had not received a transfusion 60 days prior to the survey. Some patients, especially those with hematocrits below the median, might benefit from recombinant erythropoietin therapy.