Systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, and economic evaluation, of home versus hospital or satellite unit haemodialysis for people with end-stage renal failure

A cost evaluation of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis in the treatment of end-stage renal disease in Sao Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

Conventional hemodialysis (HD) predominates over peritoneal dialysis (PD) around the world. Prospective and comparative studies comparing the costs of these modalities are scarce. In the present prospective assessment, we describe the resources used and total patient costs for both HD and PD. ♢

METHODOLOGY

We assessed 249 patients on HD and 228 on PD. All patients were 18 years of age or older and on stable dialysis. The information was collected at three points over 1 year, using standard questionnaires. The sources for costs were the Brazilian public and private health care systems. Societal perspective was considered. ♢

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Core trends and dispersions were measured. Regression models assessed the impact of modality on the average total cost per patient per year. ♢

RESULTS

Of the 249 HD patients and 228 PD dialysis patients, 189 (74%) and 160 (70%) respectively completed follow-up. The mean age for women was 55.8 years; for men, it was 59.8 years (p = 0.001). The average total cost per patient-year was US$28 570 for HD and US$27 158 for PD. By category, the costs consisted of direct medical-hospital costs (82.3% for HD, 86.5% for PD), direct nonmedical costs (5.3% for HD, 3.7% for PD), and indirect costs (12.4% for HD, 9.8% for PD). Overall costs were less for PD patients than for their HD counterparts (p = 0.025). ♢

CONCLUSIONS

Maintenance dialysis represented the most important source of costs for both modalities; loss of productivity incurred significant costs. Future studies should contemplate the social consequences arising from each modality.

Outcomes on home haemodialysis: registry challenges

Health care policy is encouraging expansion of home haemodialysis, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce cost. However, most patient outcome data derive from retrospective observational studies, with all their inherent weaknesses. Conventional thrice weekly home haemodialysis delivers a 22-51% reduction in mortality, but why should that be? Frequent and/or nocturnal haemodialysis reduces mortality by 36-66%, with comparable outcomes to deceased donor kidney transplantation. Approaches which might improve the quality of future observational studies are discussed. Patient-relevant outcomes other than mortality are also discussed.

Update on Dialysis Economics in the UK

The burgeoning population of patients requiring renal replacement therapy contributes a disproportionate strain on National Health Service resources. Although renal transplantation is the preferred treatment modality for patients with established renal failure, achieving both clinical and financial advantages, limitations to organ donation and clinical comorbidities will leave a significant proportion of patients with established renal failure requiring expensive dialysis therapy in the form of either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. An understanding of dialysis economics is essential for both healthcare providers and clinical leaders to establish clinically efficient and cost-effective treatment modalities that maximize service provision. In light of changes to the provision of healthcare funds in the form of “Payment by Results,” it is imperative for UK renal units to adopt clinically effective and financially accountable dialysis programs. This article explores the role of dialysis economics and implications for UK renal replacement therapy programs.

Use of telemedicine for haemodialysis in very remote areas: the Canadian First Nations

We used a pre-post design to compare the health and care utilization of patients receiving telehaemodialysis services in two James Bay Cree communities. The Cree are an Amerindian First Nation living in the remote James Bay region. The same group of dialysed patients (n = 19) was followed longitudinally over a two-year period: 12 months pre and 12 months post. Analysis of variables measuring the patients' health conditions showed that the quality of care provided was well within recognized good practice guidelines. Repeated measures ANOVA on the variables measuring care utilization showed a significant decrease in the monthly number of medication changes over time (P < 0.01). Different telehaemodialysis models were used in the two communities (virtual patient rounds and telecase reviews with multidisciplinary teams), but they did not lead to differences in health condition or care utilization. This suggests that there is no single prescriptive model for the delivery of tele-expertise.

Does home haemodialysis produce better outcomes for patients?

Demand for renal replacement therapy (dialysis and transplantation) is projected to rise by approximately 5% every year until at least 2030. Therefore, particular attention should be paid to areas in which significant increases in demand are likely to lead to further pressure on services. There is evidence to support higher patient survival rates in home haemodialysis compared with those that receive hospital- or satellite-based haemodialysis (i.e. a smaller renal unit based in a community hospital closer to the patient's home). Furthermore, studies suggest that home haemodialysis is at least as effective as and less costly than hospital or satellite unit haemodialysis. Therefore, there is a greater requirement for expanding the provision of home haemodialysis, and to make this treatment option available to a wider range of patients.

Towards cost-effective strategies for treatment of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder in Japan

There is a growing interest worldwide in making a more effective and efficient use of limited health care resources. Dialysis treatment in Japan and other countries is being confronted with increasing expenditure due to an aging population, coverage of new medical technologies, and an increase in the dialysis population. Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is an important issue related to the increased expenditure among dialysis patients because it is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality, and results in a high economic burden. In recent years, several economic analyses on the treatment of CKD-MBD have been reported from Western countries. Given the longer dialysis vintage of Japanese patients, it is very important to conduct economic evaluation from a long-term viewpoint using clinical data on Japanese patients. This article reviews the recent literature on economic evaluation of CKD-MBD treatments and discusses the road ahead for cost-effectiveness analysis in Japanese dialysis patients with CKD-MBD.

The cost-effectiveness of increasing kidney transplantation and home-based dialysis

BACKGROUND

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) consumes sizable proportions of health budgets internationally, but there is considerable variability in choice of RRT modality among and within countries with major implications for health outcomes and costs. We aimed to quantify these implications for increasing kidney transplantation and improving the rate of home-based dialysis.

METHODS

A multiple cohort Markov model was used to assess costs and health outcomes of RRT for new end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients in Australia for 2005-2010, using a health-care funder perspective. Patient characteristics and current practice patterns were based on the ANZDATA Registry. Two proposed changes were modelled: (i) increasing kidney transplants by between 10% and 50% by 2010; and (ii) increasing home haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) to the highest rates observed among Australian centres. We assessed costs (Australian dollars), survival and quality-adjusted survival, and cost-effectiveness.

RESULTS

The number of new ESKD patients in 2010 was estimated to be 2700, with annual RRT costs of about $A700 million; cumulative costs (2005-2010) were $A5 billion. Increasing transplants by 10-50% saves between $A5.8 and $A26.2 million, and increases quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) by 130-658 QALYs. Switching new patients from hospital HD to (i) home HD saves $A46.6 million by 2010; or (ii) PD saves $A122.1 million.

CONCLUSIONS

These clinical practice changes reduce costs, improve patient quality of life and, in the case of transplantation, increase survival. Planning for RRT services should incorporate efforts to maximize rates of transplantation and to encourage home-based over hospital-based dialysis to optimize cost-effectiveness in RRT service delivery.

Análise de custo-efetividade em relação às terapias renais substitutivas: como pensar estudos em relação a essas intervenções no Brasil?

Este estudo tem por finalidade contribuir com a discussão sobre as possibilidades para a execução de avaliação econômica em saúde, em especial por meio da técnica de custo-efetividade, em relação às terapias renais substitutivas em portadores de falência renal crônica à luz do nosso contexto. Para tanto se realizou uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as intervenções e seus cursos alternativos na perspectiva das proposições metodológicas dispostas na literatura, considerando a disponibilidade de dados e informações no nosso meio que subsidiam este tipo de pesquisa.

Irbesartan treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and renal disease: a UK health economics analysis

The objective of the study was to determine the impact of irbesartan treatment on life expectancy (LE), costs and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in hypertensive type 2 diabetes patients. A peer-reviewed and published Markov model was used to simulate progression from microalbuminuria to overt nephropathy, doubling of serum creatinine, ESRD and all-cause mortality in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes. Three treatment strategies were evaluated: (i) 'control' regimen of conventional antihypertensive therapy (excluding angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-2-receptor antagonists and dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers), (ii) 'early irbesartan' 300 mg daily and (iii) 'late irbesartan' 300 mg daily (started when overt nephropathy developed). Transition probabilities determining nephropathy progression were taken from the Irbesartan in Reduction of Microalbuminuria-2 study, Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial and other published sources. Outcomes were projected over 25 years. The mean +/- SD cumulative incidence of ESRD was reduced by 8.8% +/- 0.6 and 12.4% +/- 0.7 in patients treated with early irbesartan compared with late irbesartan and control respectively. Early irbesartan treatment improved undiscounted LE by 1.38 +/- 0.08 years (discounted: 0.81 +/- 0.04 years) compared with late irbesartan and 1.41 +/- 0.08 years (discounted: 0.83 +/- 0.04 years) compared with control. Early irbesartan treatment was projected to save (mean +/- SD) pounds 2310 +/- 327 and pounds 3801 +/- 327 over patient lifetimes compared with late irbesartan and control respectively. Irbesartan treatment is predicted to improve survival and reduce costs in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria compared with 'control'. Early irbesartan treatment is more effective than late irbesartan. Irbesartan is a valuable treatment option in this patient group in a UK setting.

Economic evaluation of palliative management versus peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease: evidence for coverage decisions in Thailand

OBJECTIVE

To examine the value for money of including peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD) into the universal health insurance scheme of Thailand.

METHODS

A probabilistic Markov model applied to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients aged 20 to 70 years was developed to examine the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of palliative care versus 1) providing PD as an initial treatment followed by HD if complications/switching occur; and 2) providing HD followed by PD if complications/switching occur. Input parameters were extracted from a national cohort, the Thailand Renal Replacement Therapy Registry, and systematic reviews, where possible. The study explored the effects of uncertainty around input parameters, presented as cost-effectiveness acceptability frontier, as well as the value of obtaining further information on chosen parameters, i.e., partial expected value of perfect information.

RESULTS

Using a societal perspective, the average ICER of initial treatment with PD and the average ICER of initial treatment with HD were 672,000 and 806,000 Baht per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained (52,000 and 63,000 purchasing power parity [PPP] US$/QALY) compared with palliative care. Providing treatments for younger ESRD patients resulted in a significant improvement of survival and gain of QALYs compared with the older aged group. The cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios of both options for the older age group were relatively similar.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that offering PD as initial treatment was a better choice than offering HD, but it would only be considered a cost-effective strategy if the social willingness-to-pay threshold was at or higher than 700,000 Baht per QALY (54,000 PPP US$/QALY) for the age 20 group and 750,000 Baht per QALY (58,000 PPP US$/QALY) for age 70 years.

The cost-effectiveness of lanthanum carbonate in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease

OBJECTIVE

To assess the cost-effectiveness of lanthanum carbonate (LC) as a second-line therapy for hyperphosphatemia in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients not achieving target phosphorus levels.

METHODS

A cohort of ESRD patients not adequately maintained on calcium carbonate (CC) and three subgroups of patients with baseline phosphorus levels of 5.6 to 6.5 mg/dl, 6.6 to 7.8 mg/dl, and more than 7.9 mg/dl were modeled. The following policy options were considered: continued CC (Policy 1); LC trial-if successful continue LC, if unsuccessful switch to CC (Policy 2). The survival benefit of using second-line LC to improve phosphorus control has been extrapolated from the relationship between hyperphosphatemia and mortality. Lifetime UK National Health Service drug and monitoring costs, expected survival, and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were examined (discounting at 3.5% per annum).

RESULTS

Policy 2 had a cost-effectiveness ratio (cost/QALY) of pound25,033 relative to Policy 1. The results show it is particularly cost-effective to treat patients with phosphorus levels above 6.6 mg/dl. The outcomes did not vary significantly during the one-way sensitivity analysis carried out on important model parameters and assumptions except when the utility value for ESRD was decreased by more than 30%.

CONCLUSIONS

Applying a cost-effectiveness threshold of pound30,000 per QALY, the model shows it is cost-effective to follow current treatment guidelines and treat all patients who are not adequately maintained on CC (serum phosphorus above 5.6 mg/dl) with second-line LC. This is particularly the case for patients with serum phosphorus above 6.6 mg/dl. Our estimates are probably conservative as the possible compliance difference in favor of LC and the reduced number of hypercalcemic events with LC relative to CC was not considered.

Lost in publication: Half of all renal practice evidence is published in non-renal journals

Physicians often scan a select number of journals to keep up to date with practice evidence for patients with kidney conditions. This raises the question of where relevant studies are published. We performed a bibliometric analysis using 195 renal systematic reviews. Each review used a comprehensive method to identify all primary studies for a focused clinical question relevant to patient care. We compiled all the primary studies included in these reviews, and considered where each study was published. Of the 2779 studies, 1351 (49%) were published in the top 20 journals. Predictably, this list included Transplantation Proceedings (5.9% of studies), Kidney International (5.3%), American Journal of Kidney Diseases (4.7%), Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (4.3%), Transplantation (4.2%), and Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2.4%). Ten non-renal journals were also on this list, including New England Journal of Medicine (2.4%), Lancet (2.3%), and Diabetes Care (2.2%). The remaining 1428 (51%) studies were published across other 446 journals. When the disciplines of all journals were considered, 59 were classified as renal or transplant journals (42% of articles). Other specialties included general and internal medicine (16%), endocrinology (diabetes) and metabolism (6.5%), surgery (6.2%), cardiovascular diseases (6.1%), pediatrics (4.3%), and radiology (3.3%). About half of all renal practice evidence is published in non-renal journals. Browsing the top journals is important. However, relevant studies are also scattered across a large range of journals that may not be routinely scanned by busy physicians, and keeping up with this literature requires other continuing education strategies.

Modality options for renal replacement therapy: The integrated care concept revisited

As the End-stage renal disease population continues to grow, innovative strategies that optimize patient outcomes while capitalizing on the relative strengths of the existing modalities must be sought. Renal transplantation remains the preferred form of renal replacement therapy, but given the limited supply of donor organs, dialytic therapies will continue to constitute a large part of the modality mix. Matching patients to the most suitable modalities requires that a number of factors be considered. These include the patient's autonomy, medical and social factors, system-related issues, patient outcomes, and finances. While peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis (HD) have traditionally been viewed as competing modalities, we propose that they, along with home and frequent HD regimens, may be used in a complementary manner, which is based on current evidence, and may provide optimal outcomes while containing treatment costs. In this review, we attempt to synthesize the current literature describing the various issues that affect modality selection, and offer an approach to achieving a balance between these many competing factors.

Home haemodialysis—international trends and variation

BACKGROUND

Home haemodialysis (HD) has the best patient outcomes and is the most cost-effective of any dialysis modality, but its use has been declining in many countries.

METHODS

Point prevalence rates of different dialysis modalities and transplantation were obtained from national and regional registries for the most recent available year (2001-03) for 21 high-income and 12 middle-income countries. Relationships with median age and prevalence of diabetic nephropathy, healthcare expenditure and population density were assessed. Long-term trends in the use of home HD during the last two to four decades were obtained for seven countries.

RESULTS

The prevalence of home HD varies from 0 to 58.4 per million population, and varies between countries, more than any other renal replacement therapy (RRT) modality. There is a positive association between the use of peritoneal dialysis and home HD (Spearman's rho = 0.531, P = 0.013), but no correlation with transplantation prevalence. There is a negative correlation with median age of the renal replacement population (rho = -0.552, P = 0.018). There is no association with prevalence of diabetic nephropathy, healthcare expenditure or population density. Temporal trends in home HD prevalence are dramatically different in different countries, with several countries expanding its use in the last few years.

CONCLUSION

The use of home HD varies dramatically between and within countries. The variation cannot be explained by the variation in the use of other RRT modalities, nor by prevalence of diabetic nephropathy, national wealth or population density. The inverse correlation with median age is difficult to explain. Significant expansion of home HD is likely to be possible in most countries, and will be increasingly important as the impressive results of more frequent HD gain credence.

Hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment-options

BACKGROUND

During 2001, over 32,000 patients in the United Kingdom received renal replacement therapy (RRT). Approximately half had a functioning transplant, with the remainder receiving dialysis therapy. The main form of dialysis is hemodialysis (HD), which is provided to 37.1 percent of the RRT population. HD is provided in three main settings: hospital (24.5 percent), satellite (10.9 percent), or home (1.7 percent). The objective of this study is to explore the cost-effectiveness of these different modalities.

METHODS

By using clinical and cost data from a systematic review, a Markov model was developed to assess the costs and benefits of the three different modalities. The model included direct health service costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results.

RESULTS

Satellite HD has lower costs 46,000 pounds sterling and 62,050 pounds sterling at 5 and 10 years than home HD 47,660 pounds sterling and 63,540 pounds sterling. The total effectiveness of home HD was slightly greater than for satellite HD, so the incremental cost per QALY of home versus satellite HD was modest at 6,665 pounds sterling at 5 years and 3,943 pounds sterling at 10 years. Both modalities dominated hospital HD.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from the study reveal that satellite HD was less costly than home HD, and home HD was less costly than hospital HD. The lack of robust data on the effectiveness and new dialysis equipment, which were not included in this review, throws some caution on these results. Nonetheless, the results are supportive of a shift from hospital HD to satellite and home HD.

Using value of information analysis to inform publicly funded research priorities

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the application and feasibility of using value of information analysis to help set priorities for research as part of the UK National Health Service (NHS) Health Technology Assessment Programme. Probabilistic decision analysis and value of information methods were applied to a research topic under consideration by the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment (NCCHTA), in the UK. The case study presented considers whether long-term, low-dose antibacterial treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children is effective and cost effective compared with short-term antibacterial therapy.

METHODS

A probabilistic decision-analytic model was developed, within which evidence from published sources was synthesised. Eight subgroups were considered and defined in terms of sex and presence of vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR). Costs were assessed from an NHS perspective, and benefits were expressed as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Simulation methods were used to determine the probability that alternative therapies would be cost effective at a range of threshold values that the NHS may attach to an additional QALY. Value of information analysis was used to quantify the cost of uncertainty associated with the decision about which therapy to adopt, which indicates the maximum value of future research. The feasibility and practicality of using value of information methods to help inform research prioritization was evaluated.

RESULTS

At a threshold value for an additional QALY of 30,000 pound , long-term antibacterial treatment may be regarded as cost effective for all eight patient groups. There was, however, substantial uncertainty surrounding the choice of antibacterial.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

The use of value of information methods was feasible and could inform research prioritization for the NHS. In the context of this specific decision faced by the NHS, the results show that long-term low-dose antibacterials for preventing recurrent UTIs may be cost effective, based on current evidence. However, the analysis suggests that further primary research with longer follow-up may be worthwhile, particularly for girls with no VUR.