COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF ANEMIA TREATMENT AMONG CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS AT KIEN GIANG GENERAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a dangerous complication that causes
a burden on the patients and society. However, it can be treated with erythropoietin (EPO). There is
a lack of studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of EPO in Vietnam in treating anemic
complications, leading to difficulties in decision-making in terms of prescriptions.
Objectives: This studied was undertaken to explore the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio
(ICER) of EPO in maintaining different Hb levels when treating anemia in hemodialysis patients
due to end-stage CKD at Kien Giang General Hospital, Vietnam, in 2017.
Methods: Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was performed based on the decision tree and
Markov models. The cost and quality-of-life data was collected via face-to-face interviews using
the KDQOL-SF questionnaire. The probability coefficients of the model were sought systemically
from the randomised clinical trials.
Results: The ICERs indicated that there were no interventions that were cost-effective in
relation to gross domestic product (GDP) of Vietnam. However, patients with the target Hb level
of >10-11 g/dL were inferred to receive the most benefit from the treatment, as indicated by
the corresponding lowest ICER.
Conclusion: The findings of this study should be proposed to policy decision makers to set up
guidelines for appropriate and cost-effective use of EPO in hospitals in Vietnam