Increasing utilisation of intravenous iron among Australian women of reproductive age, 2013-2024: an Australian population-based study.

BACKGROUND

Utilisation of intravenous iron is increasingly recognised as a viable option for treating iron deficiency, especially when oral iron is ineffective or intolerable. However, there are no updated data on the longitudinal trends of utilisation of intravenous iron among women of reproductive age (18-44) in Australia AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal trends of intravenous iron utilisation among Australian women aged 18-44 years.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study (2013-2024) using the 10% Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme dataset. We examined the longitudinal trends in the rate of intravenous iron dispensing and total dose dispensed for unique treatment episodes according to iron type and examined variation according to age group, state/territory, prescriber type and health care concession card status.

RESULTS

The rate of dispensed intravenous iron increased from 0.3 in 2013 to 5.0 per 100 women in 2024, with ferric carboxymaltose making up 93.9% of total claims. In 2024, one in 20 Australian women aged 18-44 years was dispensed intravenous iron. Total expenditure on intravenous iron increased from $1.1 million in 2013 to $82.3 million in 2024. Significant variation in type of intravenous iron and total treatment doses dispensed was evident according to age group, state/territory, concession card status and prescriber type.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall rates and expenditure on intravenous iron among women of reproductive age have rapidly increased between 2013 and 2024, with high levels of practice variation evident. Identifying the underlying reasons for the observed variation in intravenous iron utilisation is warranted.