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Assessment of Patient Perceptions about Use of Wepox Pen<sup>TM</sup> (Recombinant Erythropoietin Delivery Device with 30,000 IU Cartridge) in the Management of Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Objective: To assess perceptions about ease of use and other benefits of Wepox PenTM (loaded with 30,000 IU cartridge of recombinant erythropoietin) in the management of anemia in adult chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Material and methods: In this prospective, observational, multicentric post marketing surveillance, adult CKD patients treated with erythropoietin were enrolled from November 2015 to December 2016 to understand their opinions about Wepox PenTM. Ease of use of pen, ease of administering accurate dose, confidence in administration and ease of storage and disposal of cartridge were assessed on five points Likert scale: 1. very easy; 2. somewhat easy; 3. neither easy nor difficult; 4. somewhat difficult; 5. very difficult. Global assessment was performed on five points scale: 1. excellent; 2. very good; 3. good; 4. average; 5. not good. Safety was recorded by checking pain and discomfort and adverse events. Results: A total of 263 patients (mean age 32.87 years; 66% male; 34% female) were enrolled. Number of patients reporting ease of use as “very easy” from 209 (80.7%) at baseline increased to 245 (94.6%) and 249 (96.1%) at visit 2 (p = 0.001) and visit 3 (p = 0.001) respectively. Number of “very easy” response for accurate dose increased from 236 (91.1%) at visit 1 to 246 (95%) at visit 2 (p = 0.84) and 249 (96.1%) at visit 3 (p = 0.001). Number of the patients with “no pain” at injection site increased from 177 (68.3%) at visit 1 to 205 (79.2%) and 212 (81.9%) at visit 2 (p = 0.001) and visit 3 (p = 0.001) respectively. Improvement in number of patients with “no hurt” at visit 2 (p = 0.538) and visit 3 (p = 0.286) was not statistically significant. Number of patients reporting “somewhat easy” to “very easy” confidence in self injection increased from 251 (96.9%) at visit 2 to 255 (98.5%) at visit 3. Number of patients reporting ease of storage and disposal of cartridge as “somewhat easy” to “very easy” increased from 254 (98.1%) at visit 2 to 256 (98.9%) at visit 3. According to the global assessment, 144 (56.3%) cases reported “excellent” response. “Very good” and “Good” responses were reported by 106 (41.4%) and 6 (2.3%) patients respectively. A total of 230 (98.7%) patients said that they would prefer to use erythropoietin pen device for further treatment too. Conclusion: Wepox PenTM(recombinant erythropoietin) is easy to use and does not cause significant pain or discomfort. Ability to self-administer recombinant erythropoietin with Wepox PenTM is a great advantage which can make a significant difference for both CKD patients and doctors. Storage and disposal of cartridge is also easy.