Patterns of Ferric Carboxymaltose Use, Demographic Characteristics and Departmental Preferences

Abstract

Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), a common intravenous iron therapy for iron deficiency anemia, is useful but may cause side effects depending on age, gender, and hospital unit. This study examines the use trends of FCM across several medical departments, emphasizing demographic and ward-specific differences. Patients who received FCM treatment at a training and research hospital were analyzed retrospectively and cross-sectionally throughout a 24-month period from January 2021 to December 2022. Accordingly, the drug exemption reports were assessed to determine which departments favoured ferric carboxymaltose in which clinical conditions for patients above 18 years of age. The sample consisted of 1866 patients. The median age was 49 years (18–97). Women accounted for 74.6% of cases, with a median age of 44 years, while men represented 25.4% ($$\chi^2=452$$, $$df=1$$, $p<0.001$), with a higher median age of 67.5 years ($$U=161327$$, $$p<0.001$$). The departments that most commonly granted FCM drug exemption reports were internal medicine (41.7%), hematology (25.2%), and cardiology (13.9%) ($$\chi^2=1665$$, $$df=6$$, $$p<0.001$$). Administration locations were 78.3% outpatient clinics, 18.3% normal wards, and 3.4% intensive care units (ICU) ($$\chi^2=1759$$, $$df=2$$, $$p<0.001$$). In contrast to other departments, cardiovascular surgery treated predominantly male patients (80.6%). Obstetrics and gynecology and cardiovascular surgery predominantly administered FCM to inpatients. The cardiology department administered 71.8% of FCM treatments in ICUs. Ferric carboxymaltose exhibits department-specific variations based on gender and its administration to outpatients or inpatients, offering significant insights for all administrative procedures related to this medicine.