Journal List > J Korean Soc Transplant > v.24(3) > 1034307

Kim, Kim, Kim, Park, Jeon, R.N., Hahm, and Lee: A Renal Transplantation and Hemodialysis Cost-Utility Analysis in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of renal transplantation and hemodialysis among end-stage renal disease patients.

Methods

Empirical data on treatment costs were collected from five hospitals in Korea. We used European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association registry data for transition probability. Quality adjusted life year (QALY) values were derived from the literature. A Markov model was used for predicting the cost utility of transplantation and hemodialysis over a 10-year period.

Results

Renal transplantation was less costly and resulted in a better outcome than hemodialysis. The cost per QALY gained was 19,450 thousand won in transplantation patients, whereas it was 36,514 thousand won per QALY gained in hemodialysis patients.

Conclusions

Although the cost of the first year after transplantation was expensive, transplantation was more effective over 2 years and was less costly than hemodialysis. The results suggest that transplantation is more cost-effective than hemodialysis in Korea.

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Fig. 1.
Schematic representation of a Markov model examining the impact on costs and outcomes of renal transplantation (RTX) versus hemodialysis.
jkstn-24-173f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Results of sensitivity analysis by operation cost. a million won. Abbreviation: RTX, renal transplantation.
jkstn-24-173f2.tif
Fig. 3.
The cost-effectiveness plane. Adapted from reference [12].
jkstn-24-173f3.tif
Table 1.
Mean medical cost per patients of transplantation and hemodialysis (unit: won)
Event Transplantation (Mean±SD) Hemodialysis (Mean±SD)
Operation cost (reoperation cost) 20,070,093±4,116,058 4,345,641±3,167,889
Cost until 1 year after operation 30,894,016±5,455,139 29,180,971±5,140,073
Cost of 2nd year after operation 9,286,585±3,108,427 25,055,259±4,948,468
Cost of 3rd year after operation 8,092,982±2,615,741 25,401,012±3,865,674
Cost of yearly after 4 year after operation 8,092,982±2,615,741 25,401,012±3,865,674
Table 2.
Probabilities of dying in dialysis and after renal transplantation (RTX) and of experiencing graft loss and graft rejection after RTX
Year Mortality in dialysis (Years after start of treatment) Mortality after RTX (Years after RTX) probability of graft loss (after RTX)
1 year 0.071 0.022  
2 years 0.078 0.024 0.0038
3 years 0.216 0.059  
4 years 0.250 0.062  
5 years 0.181 0.101 0.0043
6 years 0.118 0.103  
7 years 0.134 0.147  
8 years 0.153 0.152  
9 years 0.183 0.200  
10 years 0.224 0.207 0.0033
Table 3.
The cost-effectiveness of transplantation and hemodialysis in ESRD patients (unit: 1,000 won)
Strategy Cost Incremental cost Effectiveness (QALY) Incremental effectiveness (QALY) C/E ICER (1,000 won/QALY)
Transplantation 97,053   4.99   19,450/1 QALY Dominant (less costly & more effective)
Dialysis 133,447 36,394 3.65 −1.34 36,514/1 QALY  

Abbreviations: ESRD, end stage renal disease; QALY, Quality-adjusted life years; ICER, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

Table 4.
Results of sensitivity analysis by discount rate (unit: 1,000 won)
Discount rate Strategy Cost Incremental cost Effectiveness (QALY) Incremental effectiveness (QALY) C/E ICER (1,000 won/QALY)
3% RTX 102,073   5.42   18,843  
Dialysis 142,706 40,633 3.92 −1.50 36,395  
5% RTX 97,053   4.99   19,450  
Dialysis 133,447 36,394 3.65 −1.34 36,514  
7% RTX 92,637   4.62   20,062  
Dialysis 125,304 32,667 3.42 −1.20 36,632  

Abbreviations: QALY, Quality-adjusted life years; ICER, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio; RTX, renal transplantation.

Table 5.
Results of sensitivity analysis by operation cost (unit: 1,000 won)
Operation cost Strategy Cost Incremental cost Effectiveness (QALY) Incremental effectiveness (QALY) C/E Incr C/E (ICER)
10,035 RTX 92,033 41,414 4.99 −1.34 18,444 Dominant (less costly and more effective)
Dialysis 133,447 41,414 3.65 36,514  
20,070 RTX 97,053 36,394 4.99 −1.34 19,450 Dominant (less costly and more effective)
Dialysis 133,447 36,394 3.65 36,514  
30,105 RTX 102,073 31,374 4.99 −1.34 20,456 Dominant (less costly and more effective)
Dialysis 133,447 31,374 3.65 36,514  

Abbreviations: QALY, Quality-adjusted life years; ICER, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio; RTX, renal transplantation.

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