Administration of intravenous iron through a home-based infusion strategy is safe and has high patient acceptance.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To evaluate the safety and patient experience of a hospital-initiated home-based iron infusion service in patients with iron deficiency with or without anaemia.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study, including adult patients who received intravenous iron through a Hospital in The Home service in a single tertiary centre between August 2020 and 2021. A chart review was conducted for documented adverse events (AEs). A telephone survey assessed patient acceptance with three questions on a 5-point Likert scale: (i) How do you perceive the experience of having your infusion given in the home? (ii) Would you like to have the infusion in the same location if you require one in the future? and (iii) Do you feel safe having your infusion at home?

OUTCOME MEASURES

Percentage of patients experiencing AEs and patient acceptance of a home-based iron infusion strategy.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-seven patients were included (181 ferric carboxymaltose and 16 ferric derisomaltose). Six (3%) patients (2 of 181 patients who received ferric carboxymaltose compared with 4 of 16 patients who received ferric derisomaltose, P < 0.001, Fisher's exact) experienced AEs, mostly headache and pruritus. Most patients who participated in the telephone survey had a positive experience (57/58 (98%)), felt safe (57/58 (98%)) and preferred future infusions to occur at home (52/58 (90%)).

CONCLUSION

A home-based iron infusion strategy was safe and well accepted by patients. Larger studies evaluating the safety profile of different iron formulations in the home setting are required.