Global variations in funding and use of hemodialysis accesses: an international report using the ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of contemporary data describing global variations in vascular access for hemodialysis (HD). We used the third iteration of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) to highlight differences in funding and availability of hemodialysis accesses used for initiating HD across world regions.

METHODS

Survey questions were directed at understanding the funding modules for obtaining vascular access and types of accesses used to initiate dialysis. An electronic survey was sent to national and regional key stakeholders affiliated with the ISN between June and September 2022. Countries that participated in the survey were categorized based on World Bank Income Classification (low-, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income) and by their regional affiliation with the ISN.

RESULTS

Data on types of vascular access were available from 160 countries. Respondents from 35 countries (22% of surveyed countries) reported that > 50% of patients started HD with an arteriovenous fistula or graft (AVF or AVG). These rates were higher in Western Europe (n = 14; 64%), North & East Asia (n = 4; 67%), and among high-income countries (n = 24; 38%). The rates of > 50% of patients starting HD with a tunneled dialysis catheter were highest in North America & Caribbean region (n = 7; 58%) and lowest in South Asia and Newly Independent States and Russia (n = 0 in both regions). Respondents from 50% (n = 9) of low-income countries reported that > 75% of patients started HD using a temporary catheter, with the highest rates in Africa (n = 30; 75%) and Latin America (n = 14; 67%). Funding for the creation of vascular access was often through public funding and free at the point of delivery in high-income countries (n = 42; 67% for AVF/AVG, n = 44; 70% for central venous catheters). In low-income countries, private and out of pocket funding was reported as being more common (n = 8; 40% for AVF/AVG, n = 5; 25% for central venous catheters).

CONCLUSIONS

High income countries exhibit variation in the use of AVF/AVG and tunneled catheters. In low-income countries, there is a higher use of temporary dialysis catheters and private funding models for access creation.

A retrospective clinical and economic analysis of an assisted automated peritoneal dialysis programme in Western Australia

BACKGROUND

Assisted peritoneal dialysis (aPD) represents an alternative kidney replacement therapy for dialysis-dependent patients whose only other options are prolonged hospitalisations or transfer to in-centre haemodialysis (HD). Most programmes have not examined the role of temporary aPD, and there is limited data surrounding the economic implications of temporary aPD programmes. The main aim of this study was to describe the cost-effectiveness of an assisted automated peritoneal dialysis (aAPD) programme, for patients whose only reason to stay in hospital was the temporary inability to independently perform PD at home.

METHODS

Retrospective, single-centre analysis of 45 referrals for aAPD from November 2015 to May 2021. Two groups of patients were enrolled in the study: respite patients already established on PD (to facilitate discharge or prevent admission) and new patients who were not yet trained (to facilitate discharge). To calculate the cost differential, patients were allocated to either staying in hospital or transferring to centre-based HD with comparison to costs on aAPD. Costs were calculated using a healthcare system perspective over the duration of aAPD assistance. Clinical outcomes including peritonitis rate, hospitalisation and mortality were also assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, 1349 episodes of aAPD care were delivered. One thousand forty-two episodes (77%) were for respite patients and 307 episodes (23%) were for new patients awaiting training. The mean duration of assistance was 18 days for pretraining patients and 37 days for respite patients. Overall, the mean length of stay on the programme was 30 days with a range of 1-263 days (SD 43) and 73% of patients graduated to self-care PD. The cost of the aAPD programme was $242 per visit, with an average cost $7260 per patient-episode. The aAPD programme was significantly cheaper than the alternatives, with average hospitalization costs $46,170 per episode, and in-centre HD costs of $9667. $1.497 million was saved over the course of the study. Eleven hospitalisations occurred and the peritonitis rate was 0.8 episodes per patient-year. Two patients died while on aAPD.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first detailed description of an aAPD respite programme in Australia. We conclude that the implementation of a temporary aAPD programme could lead to a significant reduction in healthcare costs, however peritonitis rates were high.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of autogenous arteriovenous fistula, arteriovenous graft, and tunneled-cuffed catheter for hemodialysis in patients with end-stage kidney disease in Southern China

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of three permanent vascular accesses for maintenance hemodialysis patients from a hospital perspective throughout 5 years, which is the average life expectancy of patients with end-stage kidney disease.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We conducted a EuroQol(EQ-5D) questionnaire survey between January 2021 and March 2021 with 250 patients to estimate the health utility of various states in patients under different hemodialysis vascular access. We designed a Markov model and conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to compare the cost-effectiveness of three hemodialysis vascular access in Guangzhou throughout 5 years.

RESULTS

The mean costs were US$44,481 with tunneled-cuffed catheter (TCC), and US$68,952 and US$59,247 with arteriovenous graft (AVG) and autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF), respectively. The mean quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) was 1.41 with TCC, and 2.37 and 2.73 with AVG and AVF, respectively. AVG had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of US$25,491 per QALY over TCC; AVF had an ICER of -US$26,958 per QALY over AVG. At a willingness to pay below US$10,633.8 per QALY, TCC is likely the most cost-effective vascular access. At any willingness to pay between US$10,633.8 and US$30,901.4 per QALY, AVF is likely the most cost-effective vascular access.

CONCLUSION

These findings illustrate the value of AVF given its relative cost-effectiveness to other hemodialysis modalities. Although AVG costs much more than TCC for slightly higher QALYs than TCC, AVG still has a greater advantage over TCC for patients with longer life expectancy due to its lower probability of death.

Key considerations for modelling the long-term costs and benefits of treatments for ANCA-associated vasculitis

OBJECTIVES

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of severe and chronic autoimmune diseases. Patients undergo two treatment phases: inducing remission and maintaining remission to prevent organ damage. Immunosuppressants, including glucocorticoids (GCs) are used as first-line treatment, but long-term GC use is associated with toxic effects. Novel treatments reduce or replace the need for long-term GC, and therefore can reduce GC-related toxicity. The evolving treatment landscape has presented new challenges for health technology assessment (HTA) of new treatments in AAV and long-term modelling of costs and outcomes in this disease.

METHODS

Using the appraisal of avacopan in England (NICE) as a case study, this paper aims to identify the key challenges involved in the economic evaluation of new treatments for AAV, with a particular focus on the long-term modelling of the treatment costs and benefits for the purpose of HTA. The outcome of this study is a set of recommendations for modelling the cost-effectiveness of new treatments for AAV from the HTA perspective.

RESULTS

The discussion focuses on the appropriate model structure, approach to modelling end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as a key determinant of costeffectiveness, capturing the impact of GC-related adverse events, and estimation of short and long-term costs of AAV.

CONCLUSIONS

Economic evaluation of new treatments for AAV needs to capture all relevant downstream effects. ESRD is a key driver of cost-effectiveness but is associated with major uncertainty. Future observational studies need to offer sufficient detail to allow for differentiation in event rates across treatment options.

Social Risk and Dialysis Facility Performance in the First Year of the ESRD Treatment Choices Model

Importance

The End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) model randomly selected 30% of US dialysis facilities to receive financial incentives based on their use of home dialysis, kidney transplant waitlisting, or transplant receipt. Facilities that disproportionately serve populations with high social risk have a lower use of home dialysis and kidney transplant raising concerns that these sites may fare poorly in the payment model.

Objective

To examine first-year ETC model performance scores and financial penalties across dialysis facilities, stratified by their incident patients' social risk.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A cross-sectional study of 2191 US dialysis facilities that participated in the ETC model from January 1 through December 31, 2021.

Exposure

Composition of incident patient population, characterized by the proportion of patients who were non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, living in a highly disadvantaged neighborhood, uninsured, or covered by Medicaid at dialysis initiation. A facility-level composite social risk score assessed whether each facility was in the highest quintile of having 0, 1, or at least 2 of these characteristics.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Use of home dialysis, waitlisting, or transplant; model performance score; and financial penalization.

Results

Using data from 125 984 incident patients (median age, 65 years [IQR, 54-74]; 41.8% female; 28.6% Black; 11.7% Hispanic), 1071 dialysis facilities (48.9%) had no social risk features, and 491 (22.4%) had 2 or more. In the first year of the ETC model, compared with those with no social risk features, dialysis facilities with 2 or more had lower mean performance scores (3.4 vs 3.6, P = .002) and lower use of home dialysis (14.1% vs 16.0%, P < .001). These facilities had higher receipt of financial penalties (18.5% vs 11.5%, P < .001), more frequently had the highest payment cut of 5% (2.4% vs 0.7%; P = .003), and were less likely to achieve the highest bonus of 4% (0% vs 2.7%; P < .001). Compared with all other facilities, those in the highest quintile of treating uninsured patients or those covered by Medicaid experienced more financial penalties (17.4% vs 12.9%, P = .01) as did those in the highest quintile in the proportion of patients who were Black (18.5% vs 12.6%, P = .001).

Conclusions

In the first year of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' ETC model, dialysis facilities serving higher proportions of patients with social risk features had lower performance scores and experienced markedly higher receipt of financial penalties.

Economic Burden of Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease and Their Caregivers: A Scoping Review

Hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatments impact the economic burden and psychological distress faced by end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and their caregivers. This review aimed to discuss the concept of an economic burden and the economic burden of different treatment options, and to highlight research gaps regarding the scarcity of previous studies relating economic burden to psychological well-being. We searched five electronic databases for papers published in 2010-2020. Papers focusing on measures of the economic burden from the government's perspective and diseases other than ESKD were excluded. Out of the 6635 publications identified, 10 publications were included. Three categories of economic burden were identified, namely, direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and indirect costs. Direct medical costs required the highest expenditure, whereas the lowest economic burden was for indirect costs. HD patients incurred a higher economic burden than PD patients. Most of the studies were carried out in Asia. The results of the research suggest that the economic burden may affect patients and caregivers, but it is unclear whether the economic burden affects the psychological well-being of the patients and caregivers. Very few studies have assessed the relationship between economic burden and psychological well-being, and further research is needed to gain further insight into the relationship between these two variables.

Association Between Dialysis Facility Ownership and Access to the Waiting List and Transplant in Pediatric Patients With End-stage Kidney Disease in the US

IMPORTANCE

Care of adults at profit vs nonprofit dialysis facilities has been associated with lower access to transplant. Whether profit status is associated with transplant access for pediatric patients with end-stage kidney disease is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether profit status of dialysis facilities is associated with placement on the kidney transplant waiting list or receipt of kidney transplant among pediatric patients receiving maintenance dialysis.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective cohort study reviewed the US Renal Data System records of 13 333 patients younger than 18 years who started dialysis from 2000 through 2018 in US dialysis facilities (followed up through June 30, 2019).

EXPOSURES

Time-updated profit status of dialysis facilities.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Cox models, adjusted for clinical and demographic factors, were used to examine time to wait-listing and receipt of kidney transplant by profit status of dialysis facilities.

RESULTS

A total of 13 333 pediatric patients who started receiving maintenance dialysis were included in the analysis (median age, 12 years [IQR, 3-15 years]; 6054 females [45%]; 3321 non-Hispanic Black patients [25%]; 3695 Hispanic patients [28%]). During a median follow-up of 0.87 years (IQR, 0.39-1.85 years), the incidence of wait-listing was lower at profit facilities than at nonprofit facilities, 36.2 vs 49.8 per 100 person-years, respectively (absolute risk difference, -13.6 (95% CI, -15.4 to -11.8 per 100 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for wait-listing at profit vs nonprofit facilities, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.75-0.83). During a median follow-up of 1.52 years (IQR, 0.75-2.87 years), the incidence of kidney transplant (living or deceased donor) was also lower at profit facilities than at nonprofit facilities, 21.5 vs 31.3 per 100 person-years, respectively; absolute risk difference, -9.8 (95% CI, -10.9 to -8.6 per 100 person-years) adjusted HR for kidney transplant at profit vs nonprofit facilities, 0.71 (95% CI, 0.67-0.74).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among a cohort of pediatric patients receiving dialysis in the US from 2000 through 2018, profit facility status was associated with longer time to wait-listing and longer time to kidney transplant.

Organizational Characteristics Associated with High Performance in Medicare's Comprehensive End-Stage Renal Disease Care Initiative

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Medicare plans to extend financial structures tested through the Comprehensive End-Stage Renal Disease Care (CEC) Initiative-an alternative payment model for maintenance dialysis providers-to promote high-value care for beneficiaries with kidney failure. The End-Stage Renal Disease Seamless Care Organizations (ESCOs) that formed under the CEC Initiative varied greatly in their ability to generate cost savings and improve patient health outcomes. This study examined whether organizational or community characteristics were associated with ESCOs' performance.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We used a retrospective pooled cross-sectional analysis of all 37 ESCOs participating in the CEC Initiative during 2015-2018 (n=87 ESCO-years). Key exposures included ESCO characteristics: number of dialysis facilities, number and types of physicians, and years of CEC Initiative experience. Outcomes of interest included were above versus below median gross financial savings (2.4%) and standardized mortality ratio (0.93). We analyzed unadjusted differences between high- and low-performing ESCOs and then used multivariable logistic regression to construct average marginal effect estimates for parameters of interest.

RESULTS

Above-median gross savings were obtained by 23 (52%) ESCOs with no program experience, 14 (32%) organizations with 1 year of experience, and seven (16%) organizations with 2 years of experience. The adjusted likelihoods of achieving above-median gross savings were 23 (95% confidence interval, 8 to 37) and 48 (95% confidence interval, 24 to 68) percentage points higher for ESCOs with 1 or 2 years of program experience, respectively (versus none). The adjusted likelihood of achieving above-median gross savings was 1.7 (95% confidence interval, -3 to -1) percentage points lower with each additional affiliated dialysis facility. Adjusted mortality rates were lower for ESCOs located in areas with higher socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSIONS

Smaller ESCOs, organizations with more experience in the CEC Initiative, and those located in more affluent areas performed better under the CEC Initiative.

Projection of the health and economic impacts of Chronic kidney disease in the Chilean population

BACKGROUND

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a leading public health problem, with substantial burden and economic implications for healthcare systems, mainly due to renal replacement treatment (RRT) for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The aim of this study is to develop a multistate predictive model to estimate the future burden of CKD in Chile, given the high and rising RRT rates, population ageing, and prevalence of comorbidities contributing to CKD.

METHODS

A dynamic stock and flow model was developed to simulate CKD progression in the Chilean population aged 40 years and older, up to the year 2041, adopting the perspective of the Chilean public healthcare system. The model included six states replicating progression of CKD, which was assumed in 1-year cycles and was categorised as slow, medium or fast progression, based on the underlying conditions. We simulated two different treatment scenarios. Only direct costs of treatment were included, and a 3% per year discount rate was applied after the first year. We calibrated the model based on international evidence; the exploration of uncertainty (95% credibility intervals) was undertaken with probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

By the year 2041, there is an expected increase in cases of CKD stages 3a to ESKD, ceteris paribus, from 442,265 (95% UI 441,808-442,722) in 2021 to 735,513 (734,455-736,570) individuals. Direct costs of CKD stages 3a to ESKD would rise from 322.4M GBP (321.7-323.1) in 2021 to 1,038.6M GBP (1,035.5-1,041.8) in 2041. A reduction in the progression rates of the disease by the inclusion of SGLT2 inhibitors and pre-dialysis treatment would decrease the number of individuals worsening to stages 5 and ESKD, thus reducing the total costs of CKD by 214.6M GBP in 2041 to 824.0M GBP (822.7-825.3).

CONCLUSIONS

This model can be a useful tool for healthcare planning, with development of preventive or treatment plans to reduce and delay the progression of the disease and thus the anticipated increase in the healthcare costs of CKD.

Kidney-Related Research in the United States: A Position Statement From the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology

Kidney disease is an important US public health problem because it affects over 37 million Americans, and Medicare expenditures for patients with chronic kidney disease now alone exceed $130 billion annually. Kidney disease is characterized by strong racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities, and reducing kidney disease incidence will positively impact US health disparities. Due to the aging of the US population and an unabated obesity epidemic, the number of patients receiving treatment for kidney failure is anticipated to increase, which will escalate kidney disease health expenditures. The historical and current investment in kidney-related research via the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has severely lagged behind ongoing expenditures for kidney disease care. Increasing research investment will identify, develop, and increase implementation of interventions to slow kidney disease progression, reduce incidence of kidney failure, enhance survival, and improve quality of life. This perspective states the urgent reasons why increasing investment in kidney-related research is important for US public health. The National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology are working together to advocate for increased funding for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The long-term goal is to reduce the burden of kidney disease in the US population and improve the quality of life of patients living with kidney disease.

The Cost of Transferring Dialysis Care From the Employer-Based Market to Medicare

This cohort study investigates the frequency and characteristics of patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving dialysis who prematurely transition from their employer-based group health plan to Medicare.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Kidney Replacement Therapy Modalities: A Systematic Review of Full Economic Evaluations

BACKGROUND

Kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is a lifesaving but costly treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The objective of this study was to review full economic evaluations comparing KRT modalities specified as hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and kidney transplantation (KT) for patients with ESKD.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of the literature from PubMed, Embase, EconLit (EBSCO), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), and CRD Health Technology Assessment Database from inception until 5 January 2020. Full economic evaluations were included if they compared three forms of KRT specified as PD, HD, and KT. The reporting quality of included studies was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist.

RESULTS

Ten studies were identified in the review. The majority of the studies were model-based evaluations and included a cost-utility analysis. Four studies were conducted from a public healthcare perspective, three from a societal perspective, and three from a third-party payer perspective. None of the studies adequately addressed all the applicable items of the CHEERS checklist. The most infrequently reported items were characterizing heterogeneity, target population, and characterizing uncertainty. There is a lack of studies that conduct from a societal perspective and take into account characterizing heterogeneity. All included studies indicate that KT is the most cost-effective KRT modality, with either a dominant position over HD and PD or an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio well below the accepted willingness-to-pay threshold. The majority of studies suggest that PD is less costly and offers comparable or better health outcomes than HD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review suggests that KT is the most cost-effective KRT modality, but there is no firm conclusion about the cost-effectiveness of HD and PD. Further economic evaluations can be conducted from a societal perspective and detail the evidence for subsets of patients with different characteristics.

Disparity in Accessibility to and Prognosis of Kidney Transplantation According to Economic Inequality in South Korea: A Widening Gap After Expansion of Insurance Coverage

BACKGROUND

Nationwide studies on the effects of wealth inequality on kidney transplantation are rare, particularly in a country with an expanded National Health Insurance Service and in Asian countries.

METHODS

In this nationwide, population-based cohort study, we reviewed the national claims database of Korea in which details of nationwide health insurance are provided. From 2007 to 2015, 9 annual cohorts of end-stage renal disease patients were included. The annual financial statuses were collected and stratified into 5 subgroups in each year: the aided group in which insurance fee was waived and the 4 other groups divided by quartiles of their medical insurance fee. Time trends of incidence proportion of kidney transplantation among end-stage renal disease patients in each year were initially assessed. The risk of graft failure, both including death-censored graft failure and death with a functioning graft, was analyzed as a prognostic outcome within the transplant recipients.

RESULTS

Significant disparity in the accessibility of kidney transplantation was present, and it was further widening, particularly from 2009 in which the National Health Insurance Service started to cover desensitized kidney transplantation. Desensitized or preemptive transplantation was less common in the poorest group who were more frequently receiving transplantation after 5 years of dialysis in the latter years. The prognosis of kidney transplantation was significantly worse in the poorer people, and this disparity also worsened during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Prominent disparity regarding accessibility to and prognosis of kidney transplantation was observed in Korea according to wealth inequality, and this disparity was worsening.

Hemodialysis in the Compact Nations of the US Affiliated Pacific: History and Health Care Implications

Background: The epidemic of non-communicable disease in the Compact nations of the US Affiliated Pacific Islands and the associated renal complications drive the demand for hemodialysis. Limited healthcare budgets and a lack of trained human health resources in these areas make hemodialysis a challenging undertaking that may require significant sacrifices in competing health care priorities. Methods: Two nephrologists who developed hemodialysis in the US Affiliated Pacific Islands provide its history. Cost estimates of hemodialysis for the Compact nations are collected from a 2014 hemodialysis feasibility report. The experiences and outcomes of current hemodialysis centers in the United States and other island nations provide a framework by which to assess the potential benefit and impact of hemodialysis in the Compact nations. Discussion: A consideration of how and why different stakeholders value hemodialysis will be crucial because they will drive the public's response to the institutionalization of any new intervention or the cessation of any existing intervention like hemodialysis. Conclusion: Updated cost estimates for dialysis clinics and data on renal disease rates in the Compact nations will be necessary to make informed decisions about hemodialysis in the current health systems. In the meantime, it is essential to enhance current medical interventions and public health strategies to prevent kidney disease and decrease the risks for kidney failure. Such preventive interventions must be culturally appropriate, effective, cost-efficient, and sustainable in the unique context of the Pacific.

The impact of chronic kidney disease on developed countries from a health economics perspective: A systematic scoping review

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 10% of the global population and poses significant challenges for societies and health care systems worldwide. To illustrate these challenges and inform cost-effectiveness analyses, we undertook a comprehensive systematic scoping review that explored costs, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and life expectancy (LE) amongst individuals with CKD. Costs were examined from a health system and societal perspective, and HRQoL was assessed from a societal and patient perspective. Papers published in English from 2015 onward found through a systematic search strategy formed the basis of the review. All costs were adjusted for inflation and expressed in US$ after correcting for purchasing power parity. From the health system perspective, progression from CKD stages 1-2 to CKD stages 3a-3b was associated with a 1.1-1.7 fold increase in per patient mean annual health care cost. The progression from CKD stage 3 to CKD stages 4-5 was associated with a 1.3-4.2 fold increase in costs, with the highest costs associated with end-stage renal disease at $20,110 to $100,593 per patient. Mean EuroQol-5D index scores ranged from 0.80 to 0.86 for CKD stages 1-3, and decreased to 0.73-0.79 for CKD stages 4-5. For treatment with renal replacement therapy, transplant recipients incurred lower costs and demonstrated higher HRQoL scores with longer LE compared to dialysis patients. The study has provided a comprehensive updated overview of the burden associated with different CKD stages and renal replacement therapy modalities across developed countries. These data will be useful for the assessment of new renal services/therapies in terms of cost-effectiveness.

[Peritoneal dialysis : what the general practitioner should know about peritoneal dialysis]

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has often been considered as a renal replacement method that is not feasible for the elderly population. Numerous recent studies have shown that this method is in fact very well, if not better tolerated by elderly patients. In Switzerland and abroad, its economic advantages have also been underlined during the past ten years. As a consequence, the use of PD is increasing, and primary care physicians are more often confronted to PD patients. Therefore, they have to be aware of some basic treatment principles, which are reviewed in this article.

Mapping the kidney disease quality of life 36-item short form survey (KDQOL-36) to the EQ-5D-3L and the EQ-5D-5L in patients undergoing dialysis

OBJECTIVES

To develop algorithms mapping the Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36-Item Short Form Survey (KDQOL-36) onto the 3-level EQ-5D questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) and the 5-level EQ-5D questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) for patients with end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis.

METHODS

We used data from a cross-sectional study in Europe (France, n = 299; Germany, n = 413; Italy, n = 278; Spain, n = 225) to map onto EQ-5D-3L and data from a cross-sectional study in Singapore (n = 163) to map onto EQ-5D-5L. Direct mapping using linear regression, mixture beta regression and adjusted limited dependent variable mixture models (ALDVMMs) and response mapping using seemingly unrelated ordered probit models were performed. The KDQOL-36 subscale scores, i.e., physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), three disease-specific subscales or their average, i.e., kidney disease component summary (KDCS), and age and sex were included as the explanatory variables. Predictive performance was assessed by mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) using 10-fold cross-validation.

RESULTS

Mixture models outperformed linear regression and response mapping. When mapping to EQ-5D-3L, the ALDVMM model was the best-performing one for France, Germany and Spain while beta regression was best for Italy. When mapping to EQ-5D-5L, the ALDVMM model also demonstrated the best predictive performance. Generally, models using KDQOL-36 subscale scores showed better fit than using the KDCS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study adds to the growing literature suggesting the better performance of the mixture models in modelling EQ-5D and produces algorithms to map the KDQOL-36 onto EQ-5D-3L (for France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) and EQ-5D-5L (for Singapore).

Patient and provider factors associated with enrolment in the pre-end-stage renal disease pay-for-performance programme in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Taiwan have been ranked the highest worldwide. Therefore, the National Health Insurance Administration has implemented the pre-ESRD pay-for-performance (P4P) programme since November 2006, which had significantly reduced the incidence of dialysis and all-cause mortality. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the enrolment in the pre-ESRD P4P programme.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The National Health Insurance research database 2007-2012 in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with prevalent pre-ESRD aged more than 18 years between January 2007 and December 2012 were enrolled. Patient demographics and hospital characteristics between P4P and non-P4P groups were compared. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the factors associated with P4P enrolment, and a generalised estimating equation was used to verify the results.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

Enrolment in the pre-ESRD P4P programme.

RESULTS

In total, 82 991 patients were enrolled in the programme, with a 45.6% participation rate. Patients who were males (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.89, 95% CI=0.86 to 0.91) and employed (AOR=0.95, 95% CI=0.92 to 0.97) had a significantly lower probability to be enrolled in the programme. Older patients (66-75 years old, AOR=1.23, 95% CI=1.14 to 1.33) and those with higher Charlson Comorbidities Index (CCI 5+, AOR=4.01, 95% CI=3.55 to 4.53) tended to be enrolled in the programme, while those in the 76+ years age group were not (AOR=1.03, 95% CI=0.95 to 1.13). Hospitals located in the central (AOR=1.48, 95% CI=1.05 to 2.08) and Kao-Ping regions (AOR=1.62, 95% CI=1.18 to 2.22) also tended to enrol patients in the pre-ESRD P4P programme. Enrolment rates increased over time.

CONCLUSION

Pre-ESRD patients of the female gender, greater age and more comorbidities were more likely to be enrolled in the pre-ESRD P4P programme. Healthcare providers and health authorities should focus attention on patients who are male, younger and with less comorbidities to improve the healthcare quality and equality for all pre-ESRD patients.

Clinical Outcomes and Economic Impact of Starting Hemodialysis with a Catheter after Predialysis Arteriovenous Fistula Creation

BACKGROUND

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease frequently undergo arteriovenous fistula creation prior to reaching end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but some initiate hemodialysis with a central vein catheter, if their fistula is not yet usable. The clinical consequences of the delay in fistula use have not been quantified in such patients. We compared patients with pre-ESRD fistula surgery who initiated dialysis with a catheter versus a fistula in terms of the frequency of post-dialysis vascular access procedures and complications and their economic impact.

METHODS

We identified 205 patients with predialysis fistula creation from 2006 to 2012 at a large dialysis center who started hemodialysis within the ensuing 2 years. Of these, 91 (44%) initiated dialysis with a catheter and 114 (56%) with a fistula. We compared these 2 groups in terms of their annual frequency of percutaneous vascular access procedures, surgical access procedures, total access procedures, hospitalizations due to catheter-related bacteremia, and overall cost of vascular access management.

RESULTS

The 2 groups were similar in demographics, comorbidities, and fistula type. As compared to patients initiating dialysis with a fistula, those initiating with a catheter had a significantly greater annual frequency of percutaneous access procedures (1.29 [1.19-1.40] vs. 0.75 [0.68-0.82]), surgical access procedures (0.69 [0.61-0.76] vs. 0.59 [0.53-0.66]), total access procedures (1.98 [1.86-2.11] vs. 1.34 [1.26-1.44]), and hospitalizations due to catheter-related bacteremia (0.09 [0.07-0.12] vs. 0.02 [0.01-0.03]). Patients initiating dialysis with a catheter incurred a median overall annual cost of access management that was USD 2,669 higher (USD 6,372 [3,121-12,242) vs. USD 3,703 [1,867-6,953], p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with predialysis fistula creation, those initiating dialysis with a catheter versus a fistula had substantially more frequent percutaneous, surgical, and total vascular access procedures, as well as hospitalizations due to catheter-related bacteremia. The annual cost of access management was substantially higher in those initiating dialysis with a catheter.

Cost Effectiveness of Dialysis Modalities: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The economic burden of providing maintenance dialysis to those with end-stage kidney disease continues to increase. Home dialysis, including both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, is commonly assumed to be more cost effective than facility dialysis, with some countries adopting a home-first policy in an attempt to reduce costs. However, the cost effectiveness of this approach is uncertain. The aim of this study is to review all published cost-effectiveness analyses comparing all alternative dialysis modalities for people with end-stage kidney disease.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of MEDLINE, the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, and Health Technology Assessment Database from the Centre of Reviews and Dissemination, The Cochrane Library and Econlit from January 2000 to December 2017. Published economic evaluations were included if they provided comparative information on the costs and health outcomes of alternative dialysis modalities.

RESULTS

The review identified 16 economic evaluations comparing dialysis modalities from both high- and low-income countries. The majority (69%) were undertaken solely from the perspective of the payer or service provider, 14 (88%) included a cost-utility analysis and eight (50%) were modelled evaluations. The studies addressed costs and health outcomes of multiple dialysis modalities, with many reporting average cost effectiveness rather than incremental cost effectiveness. Almost all evaluations suggest home dialysis to be less costly and to offer comparable or better health outcomes than in-centre haemodialysis. However, the quality-of-life benefit for each modality was poorly defined and inconsistent in terms of magnitude and direction of differences between modalities and across studies. Other issues include exclusion of competing modalities and use of arbitrary assumptions with regard to the mix of modalities.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability to identify the mix of dialysis modalities that provides best outcomes for patients and health budgets is uncertain particularly given the lack of societal perspectives and inconsistencies between published studies.

A systematic review of the economic evaluations of non-calcium-containing phosphate binders, sevelamer and Lanthanum, in end-stage renal disease patients with hyperphosphatemia

INTRODUCTION

End-stage renal disease is associated with significant comorbidity and mortality. Among its implications, hyperphosphatemia constitutes a consistent and independent risk factor. The use of benchmark treatment, low-cost calcium-based binders declined due to a potential calcification effect on coronary arteries.

AREAS COVERED

Given the increasing prevalence of end-stage renal disease and the high cost of hyperphosphatemia's new primary modality, the non-calcium based phosphate binders, we set-off to systematically assess the economic evaluations of non-calcium containing phosphate binders, sevelamer and lanthanum. The study was performed based on a systematic review of the economic evaluations of sevelamer and lanthanum. The cost-effectiveness profile of the two non-calcium-containing Phosphate Binders compared to calcium-based phosphate binders depends on several factors such as future dialysis costs, utility values, age, survival, and phosphorus levels.

EXPERT OPINION

The comparison between the two agents is rather inconclusive; nevertheless, current review suggests that non-calcium-based phosphate binders may yield a positive cost-effectiveness ratio in patients with inadequate phosphorus management and patient with longer life-expectancy. It is crucial that the literature is endowed with more data, specifically on survival, future dialysis costs, and calcification.

Lifetime benefits of early detection and treatment of diabetic kidney disease

OBJECTIVES

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a frequent complication of diabetes with potentially devastating consequences that may be prevented or delayed. This study aimed to estimate the health and economic benefit of earlier diagnosis and treatment of DKD.

METHODS

Life expectancy and medical spending for people with diabetes were modeled using The Health Economics Medical Innovation Simulation (THEMIS). THEMIS uses data from the Health and Retirement Study to model cohorts of individuals over age 50 to project population-level lifetime health and economic outcomes. DKD status was imputed based on diagnoses and laboratory values in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We simulated the implementation of a new biomarker identifying people with diabetes at an elevated risk of DKD and DKD patients at risk of rapid progression.

RESULTS

Compared to baseline, the prevalence of DKD declined 5.1% with a novel prognostic biomarker test, while the prevalence of diabetes with stage 5 chronic kidney disease declined 3.0%. Consequently, people with diabetes gained 0.2 years in life expectancy, while per-capita annual medical spending fell by 0.3%. The estimated cost was $12,796 per life-year gained and $25,842 per quality-adjusted life-year.

CONCLUSIONS

A biomarker test that allows earlier treatment reduces DKD prevalence and slows DKD progression, thereby increasing life expectancy among people with diabetes while raising healthcare spending by less than one percent.

End-stage renal disease-financial costs and years of life lost in Panama: a cost-analysis study

OBJECTIVES

Central America is a region with an elevated burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the cost of treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains an understudied area. This study aimed to investigate the direct costs associated with haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) in public and private institutions in Panama in 2015, to perform a 5-year budget impact analysis and to calculate the years of life lost (YLL) due to CKD.

DESIGN

A retrospective cost-analysis study using hospital costs and registry-based data.

SETTING

Data on direct costs were derived from the public and private sectors from two institutions from Panama. Data on CKD-related mortality were obtained from the National Mortality Registry.

METHODS

A budget impact analysis was performed from the payer perspective, and five scenarios were estimated, with the assumption that the mix of dialysis modality use shifts towards a greater use of PD over time. The YLL due to CKD was calculated using data recorded between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015. The linear method was utilised for the analyses with the population aged 20-77 years old.

RESULTS

In 2015, the total costs for dialysis in the public sector ranged from ~US$7.9  million (PD) to US$62  million (HD). The estimated costs were higher in the scenario in which a decrease in PD was assumed. The average annual loss due to CKD was 25 501 808.40 US$-YLL.

CONCLUSION

ESRD represents a major challenge for Panama. Our results suggest that an increased use of PD might provide an opportunity to substantially lower overall ESRD treatment costs.

Cost-effectiveness of a home-based group educational programme on renal replacement therapies: a study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) is the optimal treatment for most patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, there are numerous patients who cannot find a living kidney donor. Randomised controlled trials have shown that home-based education for patients with ESRD and their family/friends leads to four times more LDKTs. This educational intervention is currently being implemented in eight hospitals in the Netherlands. Supervision and quality assessment are being employed to maintain the quality of the intervention. In this study, we aim to: (1) conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of the educational programme and its quality assurance system; (2) investigate the relationship between the quality of the implementation of the intervention and the outcomes knowledge, communication and LDKT activities; and (3) investigate policy implications.

METHODS AND DESIGN

Patients with ESRD who do not have a living kidney donor are eligible to receive the home-based educational intervention. This is carried out by allied health transplantation professionals and psychologists across eight hospitals in the Netherlands. The cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted with a Markov model. Cost data will be obtained from the literature. We will obtain the quality of life data from the patients who participate in the educational programme. Questionnaires on knowledge and communication will be used to measure the outcomes of the programme. Data on LDKT activities will be obtained from medical records up to 24 months after the education. A protocol adherence measure will be assessed by a third party by means of a telephone interview with the patients and the invitees.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was obtained through all participating hospitals. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. Results of the cost-effectiveness of the educational programme will also be disseminated to the Dutch National Health Care Institute.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NL6529.

Out-of-pocket costs and productivity losses in haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis from a patient interview survey in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

The total medical (economic) costs of haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD), including direct medical costs, out-of-pocket (OOP) costs and productivity losses, have become an important issue. This study aims to compare the direct non-medical costs and indirect medical costs of both modalities in Taiwan.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This multicentre study included cross-sectional interviews of patients over 20 years old and articulate, who had been continuously receiving long-term HD or PD for more than 3 months between April 2015 and March 2016. Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test and 1000 bootstrap procedures with replacement were used for analysis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Differences in OOP costs and productivity losses.

RESULTS

There were 308 HD and 246 PD patients available for analysis. HD patients had significantly higher monthly OOP costs than PD patients after bootstrap procedures (NTD 5912 vs NTD 5225, p<0.001; NTD, new Taiwan dollars; 1 US dollar=30 NTD). Compared with PD patients, HD patients had higher monthly productivity losses after bootstrap procedures (NTD 14 150 vs NTD 11 611, p<0.001), resulting from more time spent seeking outpatient care (HD, 70.4 hours vs PD, 4.4 hours, p<0.001) and time spent by family caregivers for outpatient care (HD, 66.1 hours vs PD, 6.1 hours, p<0.001). The total costs per patient-month of HD and PD modalities, including OOP costs and productivity losses, were NTD 20 062 and NTD 16 836, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The HD modality has higher OOP costs and productivity losses than the PD modality in Taiwan.

Buttonhole versus Stepladder Cannulation for Home Hemodialysis: A Multicenter, Randomized, Pilot Trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Canadian home hemodialysis guidelines highlight the potential differences in complications associated with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannulation technique as a research priority. Our primary objective was to determine the feasibility of randomizing patients with ESKD training for home hemodialysis to buttonhole versus stepladder cannulation of the AVF. Secondary objectives included training time, pain with needling, complications, and cost by cannulation technique.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

All patients training for home hemodialysis at seven Canadian hospitals were assessed for eligibility, and demographic information and access type was collected on everyone. Patients who consented to participate were randomized to buttonhole or stepladder cannulation technique. Time to train for home hemodialysis, pain scores on cannulation, and complications over 12 months was recorded. For eligible but not randomized patients, reasons for not participating in the trial were documented.

RESULTS

Patient recruitment was November 2013 to November 2015. During this time, 158 patients began training for home hemodialysis, and 108 were ineligible for the trial. Diabetes mellitus as a cause of ESKD (31% versus 12%) and central venous catheter use (74% versus 6%) were more common in ineligible patients. Of the 50 eligible patients, 14 patients from four out of seven sites consented to participate in the study (28%). The most common reason for declining to participate was a strong preference for a particular cannulation technique (33%). Patients randomized to buttonhole versus stepladder cannulation required a shorter time to complete home hemodialysis training. We did not observe a reduction in cannulation pain or complications with the buttonhole method. Data linkages for a formal cost analysis were not conducted.

CONCLUSIONS

We were unable to demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a randomized, controlled trial of buttonhole versus stepladder cannulation in Canada with a sufficient number of patients on home hemodialysis to be able to draw meaningful conclusions.

Cost-Utility Analysis Using EQ-5D-5L Data: Does How the Utilities Are Derived Matter?

OBJECTIVES

To explore how the use of EQ-5D-5L value set and crosswalk from EQ-5D-5L to EQ-5D-3L (and use of 3L value set) would affect cost-effectiveness analysis results for England and six other countries (Canada, the Netherlands, China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore).

METHODS

Individual-level utilities derived from primary 5L data using both value set (5L) and crosswalk (c5L) approaches were applied to three Markov models assessing the cost-effectiveness of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients to estimate incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The mathematic functions between incremental QALY and utility were derived.

RESULTS

5L- and c5L-based incremental QALYs were similar in the model for non-diabetic patients (range: 1.910-2.149, 1.922-2.121). 5L tends to generate more incremental QALYs than c5L in the model for diabetic patients (range: 1.454-1.633, 1.365-1.568) but fewer incremental QALYs in the model for all ESRD patients (range: 0.290-0.480, 0.315-0.493). In all models, 5L (c5L) generated more incremental QALYs when Chinese (South Korean) value sets were used. The largest and smallest differences in 5L- and c5L-based incremental QALYs were observed when Chinese and Dutch value sets were used. Incremental QALYs was a positive linear function of both utility of PD and difference in utilities of HD and PD.

CONCLUSIONS

The value set and crosswalk approaches may not be used interchangeably in economic evaluation when EQ-5D-5L data are used to estimate utilities. Results of cost-effectiveness analysis using Markov models may be affected by both absolute utilities and their differences.

Market Consolidation and Mortality in Patients Initiating Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

It is uncertain whether consolidation in health care markets affects the quality of care provided and health outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether changes in market competition resulting from acquisitions by two large national for-profit dialysis chains were associated with patient mortality.

METHODS

We identified patients initiating in-center hemodialysis between 2001 and 2009 from a registry of patients with end-stage renal disease in the United States. We considered two scenarios when evaluating consolidation from dialysis facility acquisitions: one in which we considered only those patients receiving dialysis in markets that became substantially more concentrated to have been affected by consolidation, and the other in which all patients living in hospital service areas where a facility was acquired were potentially affected. We used a difference-in-differences study design to examine the associations between market consolidation and changes in mortality rates.

RESULTS

When we considered the 12,065 patients living in areas that became substantially more consolidated to have been affected by consolidation, we found a nominally significant (8%; 95% confidence interval 0%-17%) increase in likelihood of death after consolidation. Nevertheless, when we considered all 186,158 patients living in areas where an acquisition occurred to have been affected by consolidation, there was no observable effect of market consolidation on mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased market competition may have led to increased mortality among a relatively small subset of patients initiating in-center hemodialysis in areas that became substantially more concentrated after two large dialysis acquisitions, but not for most of the patients living in affected areas.

Medicare's New Prospective Payment System on Facility Provision of Peritoneal Dialysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Peritoneal dialysis is a self-administered, home-based treatment for ESKD associated with equivalent mortality, higher quality of life, and lower costs compared with hemodialysis. In 2011, Medicare implemented a comprehensive prospective payment system that makes a single payment for all dialysis, medication, and ancillary services. We examined whether the prospective payment system increased dialysis facility provision of peritoneal dialysis services and whether changes in peritoneal dialysis provision were more common among dialysis facilities that are chain affiliated, located in nonurban areas, and in regions with high dialysis market competition.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We conducted a longitudinal retrospective cohort study of n=6433 United States nonfederal dialysis facilities before (2006-2010) and after (2011-2013) the prospective payment system using data from the US Renal Data System, Medicare, and Area Health Resource Files. The outcomes of interest were a dichotomous indicator of peritoneal dialysis service availability and a discrete count variable of dialysis facility peritoneal dialysis program size defined as the annual number of patients on peritoneal dialysis in a facility. We used general estimating equation models to examine changes in peritoneal dialysis service offerings and peritoneal dialysis program size by a pre- versus post-prospective payment system effect and whether changes differed by chain affiliation, urban location, facility size, or market competition, adjusting for 1-year lagged facility-, patient with ESKD-, and region-level demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

We found a modest increase in observed facility provision of peritoneal dialysis and peritoneal dialysis program size after the prospective payment system (36% and 5.7 patients in 2006 to 42% and 6.9 patients in 2013, respectively). There was a positive association of the prospective payment system with peritoneal dialysis provision (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 1.18) and PD program size (incidence rate ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.22 to 1.33). Post-prospective payment system change in peritoneal dialysis provision was greater among nonurban (P<0.001), chain-affiliated (P=0.002), and larger-sized facilities (P<0.001), and there were higher rates of peritoneal dialysis program size growth in nonurban facilities (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Medicare's 2011 prospective payment system was associated with more facilities' availability of peritoneal dialysis and modest growth in facility peritoneal dialysis program size.

PODCAST

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2018_11_19_CJASNPodcast_18_12_.mp3.

Health Insurance in the First 3 Months of Hemodialysis and Early Vascular Access

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Patients without Medicare who develop ESKD in the United States become Medicare eligible by their fourth dialysis month. Patients without insurance may experience delays in obtaining arteriovenous fistulas or grafts before obtaining Medicare coverage.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

In this retrospective cohort study, we used a national registry to compare uninsured patients starting in-center hemodialysis with a central venous catheter between 2010 and 2013 with similar patients with Medicare or Medicaid. We evaluated whether insurance status at dialysis start influenced the likelihoods of switching to dialysis through an arteriovenous fistula or graft and hospitalizations involving a vascular access infection. We used multivariable logistic and Cox regression models and transformed odds ratios to relative risks using marginal effects.

RESULTS

Patients with Medicare or Medicaid were more likely to switch to an arteriovenous fistula or graft by their fourth dialysis month versus uninsured patients (Medicare hazard ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 2.43; Medicaid hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.38). There were no differences in rates of switching to arteriovenous fistulas or grafts after all patients obtained Medicare in their fourth dialysis month (Medicare hazard ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.97 to 1.42; Medicaid hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.96 to 1.06). Patients with Medicare at dialysis start had fewer hospitalizations involving vascular access infection in dialysis months 4-12 (hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.37 to 0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

Insurance-related disparities in the use of arteriovenous fistulas and grafts persist through the fourth month of dialysis, may not fully correct after all patients obtain Medicare coverage, and may lead to more frequent vascular access infections.

Clinical outcomes and healthcare use associated with optimal ESRD starts

OBJECTIVES

To assess the association between optimal end-stage renal disease (ESRD) starts and clinical and utilization outcomes in an integrated healthcare delivery system.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study in 6 regions of an integrated healthcare delivery system, 2011-2013.

METHODS

Propensity score techniques were used to match 1826 patients who experienced an optimal start of renal replacement therapy (initial therapy of hemodialysis via an arteriovenous fistula or graft, peritoneal dialysis, or pre-emptive transplant) to 1826 patients who experienced a nonoptimal start (hemodialysis via a central venous catheter). Outcomes included 12-month rates of sepsis, mortality, and utilization (inpatient stays, total inpatient days, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits to primary care and specialty care).

RESULTS

Optimal starts were associated with a 65% reduction in sepsis (odds ratio, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.29-0.42) and a 56% reduction in 12-month mortality (hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.36-0.53). Optimal starts were also associated with lower utilization, except for nephrology visits. Large utilization differences were observed for total inpatient days (9.4 for optimal starts vs 27.5 for nonoptimal starts; relative rate [RR], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.38-0.52) and outpatient visits for specialty care other than nephrology or vascular surgery (12.5 vs 18.3, respectively; RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.53-0.74).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with patients with nonoptimal starts, patients with optimal ESRD starts have lower morbidity and mortality and less use of inpatient and outpatient care. Late-stage chronic kidney disease and ESRD care in an integrated system may be associated with greater benefits than those previously reported in the literature.

Cost of chronic kidney disease attributable to diabetes from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Health System

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease, with a high economic impact on health systems.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the cost of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) attributable to diabetes, stratified by sex, race/skin color, and age, from the perspective of the Brazilian public health system between 2010 and 2016.

METHODS

Population attributable risk (PAR) was calculated from the Brazilian prevalence of diabetes and the relative risk (or odds ratio) of persons with diabetes developing CKD and ESKD as compared to non-diabetic subjects. The variables of interest were sex, race/skin color, and age. A top-down approach was used to measure the direct costs of the disease reimbursed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, using data from outpatient and inpatient records.

RESULTS

The cost of CKD and ESKD attributable to diabetes in the period 2010-2016 was US$1.2 billion (US$180 million per year) and trending upward. Female sex, age 65-75, and black race/skin color contributed substantially to the costs of CKD and ESKD (US$475 million, US$63 million, and US$25 million respectively). The clinical procedures accounting for the greatest share of disease-attributable costs are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes accounted for 22% of the costs of CKD and ESKD. Female sex, age 65-75 years, and black race/skin color were the variables which contributed most to disease-related expenditure. The economic burden of CKD may increase gradually in the coming years, with serious implications for the financial sustainability of the Brazilian public health system.

Association of Inpatient Palliative Care with Health Care Utilization and Postdischarge Outcomes among Medicare Beneficiaries with End Stage Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Palliative care may improve quality of life and reduce the cost of care for patients with chronic illness, but utilization and cost implications of palliative care in ESKD have not been evaluated. We sought to determine the association of inpatient palliative care with health care utilization and postdischarge outcomes in ESKD.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

In analyses stratified by whether patients died during the index hospitalization, we identified Medicare beneficiaries with ESKD who received inpatient palliative care, ascertained by provider specialty codes, between 2012 and 2013. These patients were matched to hospitalized patients who received usual care using propensity scores. Primary outcomes were length of stay and hospitalization costs. Secondary outcomes were 30-day readmission and hospice enrollment.

RESULTS

Inpatient palliative care occurred in <1% of hospitalizations lasting >2 days. Among the decedent cohort (n=1308), inpatient palliative care was associated with a 21% shorter length of stay (-4.2 days; 95% confidence interval, -5.6 to -2.9 days) and 14% lower hospitalization costs (-$10,698; 95% confidence interval, -$17,553 to -$3843) compared with usual care. Among the nondecedent cohort (n=5024), inpatient palliative care was associated with no difference in length of stay (0.4 days; 95% confidence interval, -0.3 to 1.0 days) and 11% higher hospitalization costs ($4275; 95% confidence interval, $1984 to $6567) compared with usual care. In the 30-day postdischarge period, patients who received inpatient palliative care had higher likelihood of hospice enrollment (hazard ratio, 8.3; 95% confidence interval, 6.6 to 10.5) and lower likelihood of rehospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.7 to 0.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with ESKD who died in the hospital, inpatient palliative care was associated with shorter hospitalizations and lower costs. Among those who survived to discharge, inpatient palliative care was associated with no difference in length of stay and higher hospitalization costs but markedly higher hospice use and fewer readmissions after discharge.

Cost of Dialysis Therapy by Modality in Manitoba

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The prevalence of ESKD is increasing worldwide. Treating ESKD is disproportionately costly in comparison with its prevalence, mostly due to the direct cost of dialysis therapy. Here, we aim to provide a contemporary cost description of dialysis modalities, including facility-based hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and home hemodialysis, provided with conventional dialysis machines and the NxStage System One.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We constructed a cost-minimization model from the perspective of the Canadian single-payer health care system including all costs related to dialysis care. The labor component of costs consisted of a breakdown of activity-based per patient direct labor requirements. Other costs were taken from statements of operations for the kidney program at Seven Oaks General Hospital (Winnipeg, Canada). All costs are reported in Canadian dollars.

RESULTS

Annual maintenance expenses were estimated as $64,214 for in-center facility hemodialysis, $43,816 for home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One, $39,236 for home hemodialysis with conventional dialysis machines, and $38,658 for peritoneal dialysis. Training costs for in-center facility hemodialysis, home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One, home hemodialysis with conventional dialysis machines, and peritoneal dialysis are estimated as $0, $16,143, $24,379, and $7157, respectively. The threshold point to achieve cost neutrality was determined to be 9.7 months from in-center hemodialysis to home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One, 12.6 months from in-center hemodialysis to home hemodialysis with conventional dialysis machines, and 3.2 months from in-center hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Home modalities have lower maintenance costs, and beyond a short time horizon, they are most cost efficient when considering their incremental training expenses.

PODCAST

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2018_07_18_CJASNPodcast_18_8_F.mp3.

Clinical Outcome of Twice-Weekly Hemodialysis Patients with Long-Term Dialysis Vintage

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Twice-weekly hemodialysis(HD) is prevalent in the developing countries, scarce data are available for this treatment in patients with long-term dialysis vintage.

METHODS

106 patients with more than 5 years HD vintage undergoing twice-weekly HD or thrice-weekly HD in a hemodialysis center in Shanghai between December 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 were enrolled into the cohort study with 3 years follow-up. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare patient survival between the two groups. Subgroup analysis of 62 patients more than 10 years HD vintage was also performed according to their different dialysis frequency.

RESULTS

Compared with patients on thrice-weekly HD, twice-weekly HD patients had significantly longer HD session time and higher single-pool Kt/V (spKt/V) (session time, 4.59±0.45 vs 4.14±0.31 hours/per session, P< 0.001; spKt/V, 2.12±0.31 vs 1.83±0.30, P< 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the two groups had similar survival (P=0.983). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age and time-dependent serum albumin were predictors of patient mortality. Subgroup analysis of 62 patients more than 10 years HD vintage also indicated that the two groups had similar survival. During the follow-up, 4 patients dropped out from the twice-weekly HD group and transferred to thrice-weekly HD.

CONCLUSION

The similar survival between twice-weekly HD and thrice-weekly HD in patients with long-term dialysis vintage is likely relating to patient selection, individualized treatment for dialysis patients based on clinical features and socioeconomic factors remains a tough task for the clinicians.

Effect of national pre-ESRD care program on expenditures and mortality in incident dialysis patients: A population-based study

Inadequate care of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and may be associated with adverse outcomes after dialysis. The nationwide pre-end-stage renal disease pay for performance program (P4P) has been implemented in Taiwan to improve quality of CKD care. However, the effectiveness of the P4P program in improving the outcomes of pre-dialysis care and dialysis is uncertain. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study. Patients who newly underwent long-term dialysis (≥3 mo) between 2007 and 2009 were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Based on the patient enrolment of the P4P program, they were categorized into P4P or non-P4P groups. We analysed pre-dialysis care, healthcare expenditures, and mortality between two groups. Among the 26 588 patients, 25.5% participated in the P4P program. The P4P group received significantly better quality of care, including a higher frequency of glomerular filtration rate measurement and CKD complications survey, a higher rate of vascular access preparation, and more frequent use of arteriovenous fistulas than the non-P4P group did. The P4P group had a 68.4% reduction of the 4-year total healthcare expenditure (excluding dialysis fee), which is equivalent to US$345.7 million, and a significant 22% reduction in three-year mortality after dialysis (hazard ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.75–0.82, P < 0.001) compared with the non-P4P group. P4P program improves quality of pre-dialysis CKD care, and provide survival benefit and a long-term cost saving for dialysis patients.

A payer-provider partnership for integrated care of patients receiving dialysis

OBJECTIVES

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are clinically complex, requiring intensive and costly care. Coordinated care may improve outcomes and reduce costs. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a payer-provider care partnership on key clinical and economic outcomes in enrolled patients with ESRD.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

METHODS

Data on patient demographics and clinical outcomes were abstracted from the electronic health records of the dialysis provider. Data on healthcare costs were collected from payer claims. Data were collected for a baseline period prior to initiation of the partnership (July 2011-June 2012) and for two 12-month periods following initiation (April 2013-March 2014 and April 2014-March 2015).

RESULTS

Among both Medicare Advantage and commercial insurance program members, the rate of central venous catheter use for vascular access was lower following initiation of the partnership compared with the baseline period. Likewise, hospital admission rates, emergency department visit rates, and readmission rates were lower following partnership initiation. Rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination were higher than 95% throughout all 3 time periods. Total medical costs were lower for both cohorts of members in the second 12-month period following partnership initiation compared with the baseline period.

CONCLUSIONS

Promising trends were observed among members participating in this payer-provider care partnership with respect to both clinical and economic outcomes. This suggests that collaborations with shared incentives may be a valuable approach for patients with ESRD.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of elbasvir-grazoprevir regimen for treating hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in stage 4-5 chronic kidney disease patients in France

Objective

To assess the cost-effectiveness of the elbasvir/grazoprevir (EBR/GZR) regimen in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with severe and end-stage renal disease compared to no treatment.

Design

This study uses a health economic model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of treating previously untreated and treatment experienced chronic hepatitis C patients who have severe and end stage renal disease with the elbasvir-grazoprevir regimen versus no treatment in the French context. The lifetime homogeneous markovian model comprises of forty combined health states including hepatitis C virus and chronic kidney disease. The model parameters were from a multicentre randomized controlled trial, ANRS CO22 HEPATHER French cohort and literature. 1000 Monte Carlo simulations of patient health states for each treatment strategy are used for probabilistic sensitivity analysis and 95% confidence intervals calculations. The results were expressed in cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained.

Patients

The mean age of patients in the HEPATHER French cohort was 59.6 years and 56% of them were men. 22.3% of patients had a F0 fibrosis stage (no fibrosis), 24.1% a F1 stage (portal fibrosis without septa), 7.1% a F2 stage (portal fibrosis with few septa), 21.4% a F3 stage (numerous septa without fibrosis) and 25% a F4 fibrosis stage (compensated cirrhosis). Among these HCV genotype 1 patients, 30% had severe renal impairment stage 4, 33% had a severe renal insufficiency stage 5 and 37% had terminal severe renal impairment stage 5 treated by dialysis.

Intervention

Fixed-dose combination of direct-acting antiviral agents elbasvir and grazoprevir compared to no-treatment.

Results

EBR/GZR increased the number of life years (6.3 years) compared to no treatment (5.1 years) on a lifetime horizon. The total number of QALYs was higher for the new treatment because of better utility on health conditions (6.2 versus 3.7 QALYs). The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) was of €15,212 per QALY gained for the base case analysis.

Conclusions

This cost-utility model is an innovative approach that simultaneously looks at the disease evolution of chronic hepatitis C and chronic kidney disease. EBR/GZR without interferon and ribavirin, produced the greatest benefit in terms of life expectancy and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) in treatment-naïve or experienced patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 and stage 4–5 chronic kidney disease including dialysis patients. Based on shape of the acceptability curve, EBR/GZR can be considered cost-effective at a willingness to pay of €20,000 /QALY for patients with renal insufficiency with severe and end-stage renal disease compared to no treatment.

[The Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social gives dialysis therapies to 426 students without cost]

BACKGROUND

The Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) is the institution with the greatest health coverage in Mexico. In adherence to existing and committed to provide specialized services to specific populations (vulnerable age groups, such as children and young people in primary, secondary and higher education, productive and without social security educational training), this gives the renal replacement therapy -peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis- at no cost to students.

METHODS

Cross-sectional and retrospective study conducted from 1 to 30 September 2016; Census Patients with Chronical Renal Failure, sociodemographic and type of therapy are identified; direct costs are estimated.

RESULTS

At 25 August 2016 to 16 426 was addressed to 26 years old, 279 male (65%) and 147 female (35%). The causes IRC were congenital problems 194 (45%), chronic glomerular diseases 111 (26%), diabetes mellitus type 1, 58 (14%), polycystic kidneys 7 (2%) and undetermined causes 56 (13%). 78 patients received CAPD, APD 208, 61 HD and 79 HD IM MS. The average annual investment per patient was 75 827.47 mexican pesos; the costs were in CAPD dialysis modality $ 41 931.20, DPA $ 64 123.20, HD intramural $ 33 301.32 and extramural $ 165 360.00; which generated a cash cost of $ 32 302 503.40 mexican pesos

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate the Institute commitment to society in granting health, preserve life and improve the quality of life of Mexicans and stage of health risk posed by the IRC.

A strategy to reduce inflammation and anemia treatment's related costs in dialysis patients

This is a post-hoc analysis evaluating erythropoiesis stimulating agents' (ESA) related costs while using an additional ultrafilter (Estorclean PLUS) to produce ultrapure dialysis water located within the fluid pathway after the treatment with reverse osmosis and before the dialysis machine. Twenty-nine patients (19 treated with epoetin alfa and 10 with darboepoetin alfa) were included in the analysis. We showed to gain savings of 210 € per patient (35 € per patient each month) with epoetin alfa during the experimental period of 6 months, compared to the control period and of 545 € per patient (90 € per patient each month) with darboepoetin alfa. Estorclean PLUS had a cost of 600 € (25 € per month per each patient) and was used for 6 months. Intravenous iron therapy with sodium ferrigluconate had a cost of 0,545 €/62,5 mg. In conclusion, during the experimental period with the use of Estorclean, we obtained global savings of 11 € per patient per month with epoetin alfa and 30 € per patient per month with darboepoetin alfa to treat anemia in dialysis patients.

Perspectives from the Kidney Health Initiative on Advancing Technologies to Facilitate Remote Monitoring of Patient Self-Care in RRT

Telehealth and remote monitoring of a patient's health status has become more commonplace in the last decade and has been applied to conditions such as heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conversely, uptake of these technologies to help engender and support home RRTs has lagged. Although studies have looked at the role of telehealth in RRT, they are small and single-centered, and both outcome and cost-effectiveness data are needed to inform future decision making. Furthermore, alignment of payer and government (federal and state) regulations with telehealth procedures is needed along with a better understanding of the viewpoints of the various stakeholders in this process (patients, caregivers, clinicians, payers, dialysis organizations, and government regulators). Despite these barriers, telehealth has great potential to increase the acceptance of home dialysis, and improve outcomes and patient satisfaction while potentially decreasing costs. The Kidney Health Initiative convened a multidisciplinary workgroup to examine the current state of telehealth use in home RRTs as well as outline potential benefits and drawbacks, impediments to implementation, and key unanswered questions.

Medicare Program; End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Payment for Renal Dialysis Services Furnished to Individuals With Acute Kidney Injury, and End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program. Final rule

This rule updates and makes revisions to the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system (PPS) for calendar year (CY) 2018. It also updates the payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by an ESRD facility to individuals with acute kidney injury (AKI). This rule also sets forth requirements for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), including for payment years (PYs) 2019 through 2021.

Projecting prevalence, costs and evaluating simulated interventions for diabetic end stage renal disease in a Canadian population of aboriginal and non-aboriginal people: an agent based approach

BACKGROUND

Diabetes-related end stage renal disease (DM-ESRD) is a devastating consequence of the type 2 diabetes epidemic, both of which disproportionately affect Indigenous peoples. Projecting case numbers and costs into future decades would help to predict resource requirements, and simulating hypothetical interventions could guide the choice of best practices to mitigate current trends.

METHODS

An agent based model (ABM) was built to forecast First Nations and non-First Nations cases of DM-ESRD in Saskatchewan from 1980 to 2025 and to simulate two hypothetical interventions. The model was parameterized with data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Saskatchewan Health Administrative Databases, the Canadian Organ Replacement Register, published studies and expert judgement. Input parameters without data sources were estimated through model calibration. The model incorporated key patient characteristics, stages of diabetes and chronic kidney disease, renal replacement therapies, the kidney transplant assessment and waiting list processes, costs associated with treatment options, and death. We used this model to simulate two interventions: 1) No new cases of diabetes after 2005 and 2) Pre-emptive renal transplants carried out on all diabetic persons with new ESRD.

RESULTS

There was a close match between empirical data and model output. Going forward, both incidence and prevalence cases of DM-ESRD approximately doubled from 2010 to 2025, with 250-300 new cases per year and almost 1300 people requiring RRT by 2025. Prevalent cases of First Nations people with DM-ESRD increased from 19% to 27% of total DM-ESRD numbers from 1990 to 2025. The trend in yearly costs paralleled the prevalent DM-ESRD case count. For Scenario 1, despite eliminating diabetes incident cases after 2005, prevalent cases of DM-ESRD continued to rise until 2019 before slowly declining. When all DM-ESRD incident cases received a pre-emptive renal transplant (scenario 2), a substantial increase in DM-ESRD prevalence occurred reflecting higher survival, but total costs decreased reflecting the economic advantage of renal transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

This ABM can forecast numbers and costs of DM-ESRD in Saskatchewan and be modified for application in other jurisdictions. This can aid in resource planning and be used by policy makers to evaluate different interventions in a safe and economical manner.

A New Statistical Method to Determine the Degree of Validity of Health Economic Model Outcomes against Empirical Data

BACKGROUND

The validation of health economic (HE) model outcomes against empirical data is of key importance. Although statistical testing seems applicable, guidelines for the validation of HE models lack guidance on statistical validation, and actual validation efforts often present subjective judgment of graphs and point estimates.

OBJECTIVES

To discuss the applicability of existing validation techniques and to present a new method for quantifying the degrees of validity statistically, which is useful for decision makers.

METHODS

A new Bayesian method is proposed to determine how well HE model outcomes compare with empirical data. Validity is based on a pre-established accuracy interval in which the model outcomes should fall. The method uses the outcomes of a probabilistic sensitivity analysis and results in a posterior distribution around the probability that HE model outcomes can be regarded as valid.

RESULTS

We use a published diabetes model (Modelling Integrated Care for Diabetes based on Observational data) to validate the outcome "number of patients who are on dialysis or with end-stage renal disease." Results indicate that a high probability of a valid outcome is associated with relatively wide accuracy intervals. In particular, 25% deviation from the observed outcome implied approximately 60% expected validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Current practice in HE model validation can be improved by using an alternative method based on assessing whether the model outcomes fit to empirical data at a predefined level of accuracy. This method has the advantage of assessing both model bias and parameter uncertainty and resulting in a quantitative measure of the degree of validity that penalizes models predicting the mean of an outcome correctly but with overly wide credible intervals.

Annual direct medical costs associated with diabetes-related complications in the event year and in subsequent years in Hong Kong

AIM

To develop models to estimate the direct medical costs associated with diabetes-related complications in the event year and in subsequent years.

METHODS

The public direct medical costs associated with 13 diabetes-related complications were estimated among a cohort of 128 353 people with diabetes over 5 years. Private direct medical costs were estimated from a cross-sectional survey among 1825 people with diabetes. We used panel data regression with fixed effects to investigate the impact of each complication on direct medical costs in the event year and subsequent years, adjusting for age and co-existing complications.

RESULTS

The expected annual public direct medical cost for the baseline case was US$1,521 (95% CI 1,518 to 1,525) or a 65-year-old person with diabetes without complications. A new lower limb ulcer was associated with the biggest increase, with a multiplier of 9.38 (95% CI 8.49 to 10.37). New end-stage renal disease and stroke increased the annual medical cost by 5.23 (95% CI 4.70 to 5.82) and 5.94 (95% CI 5.79 to 6.10) times, respectively. History of acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, end-stage renal disease and lower limb ulcer increased the cost by 2-3 times. The expected annual private direct medical cost of the baseline case was US$187 (95% CI 135 to 258) for a 65-year-old man without complications. Heart disease, stroke, sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy and end-stage renal disease increased the private medical costs by 1.5 to 2.5 times.

CONCLUSIONS

Wide variations in direct medical cost in event year and subsequent years across different major complications were observed. Input of these data would be essential for economic evaluations of diabetes management programmes.

All-cause costs increase exponentially with increased chronic kidney disease stage

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the economic impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on US health plans.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis identified patients with a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi) prescription from an electronic medical record (EMR) database (Humedica); those with =90 days in =1 CKD stage were selected based on estimated glomerular filtration rate or diagnosis code, and a cohort on RAASi medications without CKD was selected. Costs for specific services obtained from OptumInsight were applied to services in EMR data of patients aged <65 years (commercial) and =65 years (Medicare). Dialysis costs were excluded.

RESULTS

The study included 106,050 patients with CKD and 56,761 no-CKD controls (90,302 commercial and 72,509 Medicare overall). Mean annualized all-cause costs increased exponentially with advancing stage, from $7537 (no CKD) to $76,969 (CKD stages 4-5) in the commercial group, and $8091 (no CKD) to $46,178 (CKD stages 4-5) in the Medicare group (P <.001; all comparisons with preceding disease stage). Mean costs for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients were $121,948 and $87,339 in the commercial and Medicare groups, respectively. Inpatient costs were the largest contributor to total costs, and their relative contribution increased with advancing CKD.

CONCLUSIONS

Cost to US health plans increases exponentially with each CKD stage progression. ESRD costs are even higher. Because readmissions lead to higher costs, efforts to reduce readmissions would result in cost reductions. Furthermore, healthcare reengineering paradigms that manage increasing comorbidities with advancing CKD, including heart failure, diabetes, and hyperkalemia, should offer additional potential for cost reductions.

Ethical issues in dialysis therapy

Treatment for end-stage kidney disease is a major economic challenge and a public health concern worldwide. Renal-replacement therapy poses several practical and ethical dilemmas of global relevance for patients, clinicians, and policy makers. These include how to: promote patients' best interests; increase access to dialysis while maintaining procedural and distributive justice; minimise the influence of financial incentives and competing interests; ensure quality of care in service delivery and access to non-dialytic supportive care when needed; minimise the financial burden on patients and health-care system; and protect the interests of vulnerable groups during crisis situations. These issues have received comparatively little attention, and there is scant ethical analysis and guidance available to decision makers. In this Health Policy, we provide an overview of the major ethical issues related to dialysis provision worldwide, identify priorities for further investigation and management, and present preliminary recommendations to guide practice and policy.

A comprehensive approach to assess the costs of renal replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease in France: the importance of age, diabetes status, and clinical events

OBJECTIVES

In the current pressured economic context, and to continue to treat the growing number of patients with high-quality standards, the first step is to have a better understanding of the costs related to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment according to various renal replacement therapy, age, diabetes status, and clinical events.

METHODS

In order to estimate the direct costs of all adult ESRD patients, according to (RRT) modality, patient condition, and clinical events, data from the French national health insurance funds were used.

RESULTS

The mean monthly costs for the 47,862 stable prevalent patients (73 % of the population) varied substantially according to treatment modality (from 7300€ for in-center hemodialysis to 1100€ for a functioning renal graft) and to clinical event (8300€ for the first month of dialysis, 11,000€ for the last month before death, 22,800€ for the first month after renal transplantation). Mean monthly costs varied according to diabetic status and to age to a lesser extent.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate, for the first time in France and in Europe, the importance of a dynamic view of renal care and the bias likely when comparing treatments in cross-sectional studies.

Disparities in dialysis allocation: An audit from the new South Africa

End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) is a public health problem with an enormous economic burden. In resource limited settings management of ESKD is often rationed. Racial and socio-economic inequalities in selecting candidates have been previously documented in South Africa. New guidelines for dialysis developed in the Western Cape have focused on prioritizing treatment. With this in mind we aimed at exploring whether the new guidelines would improve inequalities previously documented. A retrospective study of patients presented to the selection committee was conducted at Groote Schuur Hospital. A total of 564 ESKD patients presented between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012 were assessed. Half of the patients came from low socioeconomic areas, and presentation was late with either overt uremia (n = 181, 44·4%) or fluid overload (n = 179, 43·9%). More than half (53·9%) of the patients were not selected for the program. Predictors of non-acceptance onto the program included age above 50 years (OR 0·3, p = 0·001), unemployment (OR 0·3, p<0·001), substance abuse (OR 0·2, p<0·001), diabetes (OR 0·4, p = 0·016) and a poor psychosocial assessment (OR 0·13, p<0·001). Race, gender and marital status were not predictors. The use of new guidelines has not led to an increase in inequalities. In view of the advanced nature of presentation greater efforts need to be made to prevent early kidney disease, to allocate more resources to renal replacement therapy in view of the loss of young and potentially productive life.