Cost to government and society of chronic kidney disease stage 1–5: a national cohort study

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background: Costs associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are not well documented. Understanding such costs is important to inform economic evaluations of prevention strategies and treatment options.Aim: To estimate the costs associated with CKD in Australia.Methods: We used data from the 2004/2005 AusDiab study, a national longitudinal population‐based study of non‐institutionalised Australian adults aged ≥25 years. We included 6138 participants with CKD, diabetes and healthcare cost data. The annual age and sex‐adjusted costs per person were estimated using a generalised linear model. Costs were inflated from 2005 to 2012 Australian dollars using best practice methods.Results: Among 6138 study participants, there was a significant difference in the per‐person annual direct healthcare costs by CKD status, increasing from $1829 (95% confidence interval (CI): $1740–1943) for those without CKD to $14 545 (95% CI: $5680–44 842) for those with stage 4 or 5 CKD (P < 0.01). Similarly, there was a significant difference in the per‐person annual direct non‐healthcare costs by CKD status from $524 (95% CI: $413–641) for those without CKD to $2349 (95% CI: $386–5156) for those with stage 4 or 5 CKD (P < 0.01). Diabetes is a common cause of CKD and is associated with increased health costs. Costs per person were higher for those with diabetes than those without diabetes in all CKD groups; however, this was significant only for those without CKD and those with early stage (stage 1 or 2) CKD.Conclusion: Individuals with CKD incur 85% higher healthcare costs and 50% higher government subsidies than individuals without CKD, and costs increase by CKD stage. Primary and secondary prevention strategies may reduce costs and warrant further consideration.
Funding Information
  • NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship
  • NHMRC Training Fellowship
  • NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship
  • NHMRC Sidney Sax Overseas Public Health Research Fellowship
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (233200)
  • Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
  • Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd
  • Alphapharm Pty Ltd
  • AstraZeneca
  • Bristol-Myers Squibb
  • City Health Centre-Diabetes Service-Canberra
  • Department of Health and Community Services - Northern Territory
  • Department of Health and Human Services - Tasmania
  • Department of Health - New South Wales
  • Department of Health - Western Australia
  • Department of Health - South Australia
  • Department of Human Services - Victoria
  • Diabetes Australia
  • Diabetes Australia Northern Territory
  • Eli Lilly Australia
  • Estate of the Late Edward Wilson
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Jack Brockhoff Foundation
  • Janssen-Cilag
  • Kidney Health Australia
  • Marian & FH Flack Trust
  • Menzies Research Institute
  • Merck Sharp & Dohme
  • Novartis Pharmaceuticals
  • Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals
  • Pfizer Pty Ltd
  • Pratt Foundation
  • Queensland Health
  • Roche Diagnostics Australia
  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
  • Sanofi Aventis
  • Sanofi Synthelabo
  • Victorian Government's OIS Program

This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit: