Appropriateness of Intravenous Iron Utilization in Hospitalized Adults

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Publication Date

4-17-2026

Keywords

fsc2026

Abstract

Purpose:

Intravenous (IV) iron is often used to treat iron deficiency when oral iron fails or rapid repletion is needed, particularly in patients with CKD, heart failure, or mal-absorptive states. However, IV iron is significantly more expensive and increasingly prescribed inappropriately, leading to unnecessary costs and potential risks. This drug use evaluation aims to identify patterns of IV iron prescribing, reduce inappropriate use, and promote evidence-based, cost-effective care at a large community teaching hospital. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure appropriate resource utilization and improve overall patient outcomes.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review will be conducted for patients who received IV iron during an inpatient admission from October 1, 2024, through May 30, 2025. The primary objective is to evaluate the appropriateness of IV iron utilization in hospitalized adult patients without pregnancy, heart failure, and CKD on dialysis. Secondary objectives include evaluating consistency of providing a documented plan for completion of iron replacement upon discharge, and to estimate potential cost savings by comparing direct costs of oral iron versus IV iron in this population. Appropriateness for use criteria will be designed and based on recommendations from American Society of Hematology (ASH), American Gastroenterology Association (AGA), and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). Furthermore, descriptive statistics will be used to evaluate baseline characteristics. Univariate analyses will be performed using the Fisher’s exact or Chi-square test for categorical variables and paired t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. All statistical analyses will be completed through JASP software. All tests will be two tailed, and a p-value < 0.05 will represent statistical significance.

Comments

Poster presented at the 2026 Fisher Showcase, St. John Fisher University, April 17, 2026.

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