Prognostic significance of degree of anemia in renal cell carcinoma.
469 Background: Anemia can precede the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). It has been well studied that it has a negative effect on the outcome of RCC. The impact of the severity of anemia on the overall all survival of patients with RCC is not well known. Our study examined the impact of severity of anemia on the overall survival of patients with RCC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 204 patients diagnosed with RCC between 1995 and 2008 in a community hospital setting. Patients with additional malignancies, lymphoma of the kidneys, with no follow up data or no preoperative Hemoglobin levels (Hg) measurement were excluded from the study. Demographics, preoperative complete blood count (CBC), pathology, disease stage, operative note, and subsequent follow up data were reviewed. Patients were grouped based on their preoperative Hg. Anemia was defined as Hg <12g/dl for females and <13g/dl for males. Patients were divided based on Hg to Group A (females with Hg<10 g/dl, males with Hg<11g/dl), group B (females with Hg 10-12 g/dl, males with Hg 11-13 g/dl), group C (females with Hg >12 g/dl, males with Hg >13g/dl). Last follow up date was used to calculate the 3 year overall survival for patients. The primary outcome was 3 year overall survival. Results: A total of 204 patients were reviewed, 127 (62.3%) were males, 176 (85.9%) were Caucasians. The median age of the study population was 65 (22-91). Clear Cell was the commonest histology (79%). Anemia was found in 90 (44.1%) patients. The median Hg was 12.8 g/dl (Range: 7.2-18.2). Anemia was present in 41.8% of females and 46.2% of males. The median Hg level for stages I, II, III, IV were (13.05, 12.45, 12.45, 11.45) respectively. The 3 year overall survival for the study population was 67.3% (95% CI: 60.4-73.7). The 3-year overall survival for anemic patients was 51.2% (95% CI: 40-61) compared to 81.6% (95% CI: 72-87) in non anemic (p<0.0001). The 3-year overall survival significantly decreased with Hg levels, as shown by the Groups A (33.3%), B (60.7%), and C (81.6%) (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Our finding was consistent with other studies in portraying anemia as a negative prognostic factor in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Our study also showed that the severity of anemia corresponds to poorer overall patients survival.