Impact of iron deficiency diagnosis using hepcidin mass spectrometry dosage methods on hospital stay and costs after a prolonged ICU stay: Study protocol for a multicentre, randomised, single-blinded medico-economic trial
Résumé
Iron deficiency (ID) is frequent but difficult to diagnose in critically ill patients. ID may be responsible for prolonged post-ICU hospital stays, since it results in fatigue, muscle weakness and anaemia. Hepcidin, the key iron metabolism hormone, may be a good marker of ID in these patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether using mass spectrometry hepcidin determination to diagnose (and treat) ID after prolonged ICU stays may reduce patients' subsequent hospital stays and costs in comparison with conventional (ferritin) methods.