Direct Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of Ferric Carboxymaltose versus Iron Dextran in Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Table 1

Baseline demographics and characteristics.

Demographic characteristic	FCM (𝑁=82)	DEX (𝑁=78)	𝑃 value
Age (years)
Mean (SD)	46.2 (14.64)	48.2 (17.10)	𝑃=0.422
Minimum, maximum	20, 86	18, 84
≤65	72 (87.8%)	63 (80.8%)
66–75	5 (6.1%)	9 (11.5%)
76–85	5 (6.1%)	6 (7.7%)
Gender
Female	73 (89.0%)	69 (88.5%)	𝑃=1.00
Male	9 (11.0%)	9 (11.5%)
Race
African American	27 (32.9%)	21 (26.9%)	𝑃=0.639
Asian	4 (4.9%)	3 (3.8%)
Caucasian	41 (50.0%)	42 (53.8%)
Hispanic	7 (8.5%)	11 (14.1%)
Other	3 (3.7%)	1 (1.3%)
Iron intolerance
No	37 (45.1%)	33 (42.3%)	𝑃=0.752
Yes	45 (54.9%)	45 (57.7%)
Weight (kg)
Mean (SD)	79.89 (22.960)	82.18 (20.681)	𝑃=0.509
Height (cm)
Mean (SD)	163.65 (7.965)	163.80 (8.245)	𝑃=0.903
Drug allergy
No	44 (53.7%)	45 (57.7%)	𝑃=0.636
Yes	38 (46.3%)	33 (42.3%)
Baseline hemoglobin (g/dL)
Mean (SD)	9.63 (1.190)	9.49 (1.260)	𝑃=0.472
Hemoglobin category
≤8.0 g/dL	9 (11.0%)	9 (11.5%)	𝑃=0.857
8.1–9.5 g/dL	23 (28.0%)	20 (25.6%)
≥9.6 g/dL	50 (61.0%)	49 (62.8%)
Use of immunosuppressive therapy
No	79 (96.3%)	77 (98.7%)	𝑃=0.621
Yes	3 (3.7%)	1 (1.3%)
Cardiovascular risk
1	41 (50.0%)	40 (51.3%)	𝑃=0.809
2	19 (23.2%)	19 (24.4%)
3	12 (14.6%)	10 (12.8%)
4	10 (12.2%)	9 (11.5%)
Baseline TSAT (%)
Mean (SD)	10.05 (10.010)	10.95 (11.257)	𝑃=0.596
<20	72 (87.8%)	63 (80.8%)
Baseline ferritin (ng/mL)
Mean (SD)	12.89 (21.848)	23.12 (44.828)	𝑃=0.067
<100	80 (97.6%)	71 (91.0%)
Past response to iron therapy
Poor/no	17 (20.7%)	18 (23.1%)	𝑃=0.849
Poor/yes	65 (79.3%)	60 (76.9%)
Etiology of IDA
Heavy uterine bleeding	32 (39.0%)	27 (34.6%)	𝑃=0.659
Chronic kidney disease	4 (4.9%)	2 (2.6%)
IBD/Gastrointestinal related	31 (37.8%)	30 (38.5%)
Other	4 (4.9%)	9 (11.5%)
Postpartum	2 (2.4%)	1 (1.3%)
Unknown	9 (11.0%)	9 (11.5%)

IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; IDA: iron deficiency anemia; SD: standard deviation.