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. 2020 Nov-Dec;61(6):307-311.
doi: 10.4103/nmj.NMJ_106_20. Epub 2020 Dec 19.

Demographics, Cost, and Sustainability of Haemodialysis among End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients in Southern Nigeria: A Single-Center Study

Effiong E Akpan  1 , Udeme E Ekrikpo  1 , Emmanuel Edet Effa  2 , Aniema I A Udo  1 , Victor A Umoh  1
Affiliations

Demographics, Cost, and Sustainability of Haemodialysis among End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients in Southern Nigeria: A Single-Center Study

Effiong E Akpan et al. Niger Med J. 2020 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Context: Access to chronic hemodialysis for patients with end-stage kidney disease has improved over the years. However, it is unclear if this has resulted in lower cost and improved dialysis vintage.

Aim: We aimed to assess the demographics, cost implication, and sustainability of maintenance hemodialysis in our cohort of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients.

Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of ESKD patients on maintenance HD from 2014 to 2018 using hemodialysis records. Time-to-HD discontinuation and reasons for discontinuation were recorded. Using Kaplan-Meier graphs, the time-to-dialysis discontinuation experience of the cohort was shown. Log-rank test was used to compare the experience between both genders. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were built to identify independent associations with time-to-dialysis discontinuation.

Results: Over the 5-year period, 702 individuals initiated HD, males were older than females, the complete cohort contributed 65,714 person-days to the study and the median time-to-HD discontinuation was 10 days (interquartile range, 2-42). Females had a shorter time to HD discontinuation (8 days [1-32 days]) compared to males (11 days [2-48 days]). Only 28.5%, 15.3% and 8.3% of the patients had HD beyond 30, 90, and 180 days, respectively. About 128 (18.2%) had thrice-weekly HD. Most sustained the treatment for the 1st week. Majority (98.4%) of the patients were presumed dead, while 4 (0.65%) were still alive and 6 (0.98%) had renal transplantation. All patients who discontinued dialysis did so for financial reasons. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model showed that individuals who could afford dialysis more than once a week had reduced hazard of dialysis discontinuation.

Conclusion: Most patients cannot sustain HD beyond a few weeks for financial reasons. Several cost containment strategies need to be deployed to bring down the cost of care.

Keywords: Cost; end-stage kidney disease; hemodialysis; sustainability.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart showing patient recruitment over a 5-year period
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kaplan–Meier curves for survival of end-stage kidney disease patients on hemodialysis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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