Predicting cancer-associated anaemia in patients receiving non-platinum chemotherapy: results of a retrospective survey.

A 2-year retrospective chart survey of 1064 patients with colorectal, breast, lung or ovarian cancer, Hodgkin's disease, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was conducted at 24 centres in France to determine the prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin (Hb) levels < or = 120 g/l) and need for transfusion in patients who received non-platinum-based chemotherapy for more than three cycles or 3 months. Baseline Hb levels documented anaemia in 37.1% of patients (all tumour types). By cycle 3, the prevalence of anemia increased to 54.1% of patients and remained over 50% at cycle 4. At some time during chemotherapy 14.5% of patients were transfused. Predictive risk factors for anaemia requiring transfusion included low baseline Hb, decrease in Hb during the first month of chemotherapy, primary tumour site, prior blood transfusions and duration of chemotherapy. By early identification of patients at the highest risk of developing anaemia, interventions such as epoetin alfa can be employed to reduce or eliminate the need for transfusions.