# Attenuation of Anemia for the Optimization of Post-Hospitalization Functional Recovery in Survivors of Critical Illness

> **NIH NIH K23** · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · 2021 · $169,020

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Anemia is a common but underappreciated complication of critical illness. While increased tolerance of anemia
has not been associated with negative short-term outcomes such as mortality, the impact on long-term
functional outcomes (physical function, cognition, mental health, quality of life) remains unknown. Impairments
in these functional domains are highly prevalent and debilitating in survivors of critical illness, and the
identification of modifiable risk factors has been recognized as a key priority in critical illness research.
The long-range goal of the applicant is to become a successful independent translational clinician-scientist
leading a multidisciplinary team to optimize patient recovery after critical illness. The scientific objectives of
this application are to: 1) identify patients at highest risk for impaired recovery from anemia after critical
illness; 2) assess the relationships between persistent post-hospitalization anemia and functional outcomes;
and 3) to test the feasibility and impact of a novel anemia prevention and treatment intervention on post-
hospitalization functional outcomes. The training goals of the applicant are to obtain training and expertise in
biostatistics and data science, multi-dimensional functional outcome assessment, and pragmatic clinical trial
design and implementation science.
Aim 1. To assess patterns and consequences of anemia recovery in the first year after critical illness
• Recovery from anemia after critical illness remains incompletely characterized. In this aim, epidemiologic
 data from a large cohort of ICU survivors will be utilized to evaluate hemoglobin recovery after critical
 illness. Advanced statistical and data science approaches will be used to identify unique profiles of
 hemoglobin recovery, predict patients at high risk for impaired recovery, and assess the relationships
 between hemoglobin recovery and functional outcomes in the first year after hospitalization.
Aim 2. To perform a pilot pragmatic clinical trial testing a multi-faceted anemia intervention (optimized
phlebotomy practice, clinical-decision support, targeted pharmacologic anemia treatment) to attenuate
anemia development and promote functional recovery in the setting of critical illness
 • The impact of anemia treatment interventions on functional outcomes after critical illness has not been
 defined. This aim will employ a pilot clinical trial testing the feasibility and efficacy of a novel multi-faceted
 anemia intervention aimed at attenuating and treating anemia during critical illness for the modification of
 hemoglobin levels and post-hospitalization functional outcomes (i.e. 3 and 6 months after hospitalization).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10214153
- **Project number:** 1K23HL153310-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew A Warner
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $169,020
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-06-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10214153

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10214153, Attenuation of Anemia for the Optimization of Post-Hospitalization Functional Recovery in Survivors of Critical Illness (1K23HL153310-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10214153. Licensed CC0.

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