Associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in Medicare ESRD patients on dialysis

Jiannong Liu1, Haifeng Guo1, David Gilbertson1, Robert Foley1,2, Allan Collins1,21Chronic Disease Research Group, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 2Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USAAbstract: Most end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patient...

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Main Authors: Jiannong Liu, Haifeng Guo, David Gilbertson, Robert Foley, et al.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2009-04-01
Series:Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/associations-of-anemia-persistency-with-medical-expenditures-in-medica-a3062
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author Jiannong Liu
Haifeng Guo
David Gilbertson
Robert Foley
et al.
author_facet Jiannong Liu
Haifeng Guo
David Gilbertson
Robert Foley
et al.
author_sort Jiannong Liu
collection DOAJ
description Jiannong Liu1, Haifeng Guo1, David Gilbertson1, Robert Foley1,2, Allan Collins1,21Chronic Disease Research Group, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 2Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USAAbstract: Most end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients begin renal replacement therapy with hemoglobin levels below the recommended US National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative Guidelines lower level of 110 g/L. Although most patients eventually reach this target, the time required varies substantially. This study aimed to determine whether length of time with below-target hemoglobin levels after dialysis initiation is associated with medical costs, and if so, whether intermediate factors underlie the associations. US patients initiating dialysis in 2002 were studied using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ESRD database. Anemia persistence (time in months with hemoglobin below 110 g/L) was determined in a six-month entry period, and outcomes were assessed in the subsequent six-month follow-up period. The structural equation modeling technique was used to evaluate associations between persistent anemia and medical costs and to determine intermediate factors for these associations. The study included 28,985 patients. Mean per-patient-per-month medical cost was $6267 (standard deviation $5713) in the six-month follow-up period. Each additional month with hemoglobin below 110 g/L was associated with an 8.9% increment in medical cost. The increased cost was associated with increased erythropoietin use and blood transfusions, and increased rates of hospitalization and vascular access procedures in the follow-up period. Keywords: anemia persistency, end-stage renal disease, medical costs, structural equation modeling
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spelling doaj.art-0698df468a75420ba8485cf6af08c6de2022-12-21T19:36:05ZengDove Medical PressTherapeutics and Clinical Risk Management1176-63361178-203X2009-04-012009default319330Associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in Medicare ESRD patients on dialysisJiannong LiuHaifeng GuoDavid GilbertsonRobert Foleyet al.Jiannong Liu1, Haifeng Guo1, David Gilbertson1, Robert Foley1,2, Allan Collins1,21Chronic Disease Research Group, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, USA; 2Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USAAbstract: Most end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients begin renal replacement therapy with hemoglobin levels below the recommended US National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative Guidelines lower level of 110 g/L. Although most patients eventually reach this target, the time required varies substantially. This study aimed to determine whether length of time with below-target hemoglobin levels after dialysis initiation is associated with medical costs, and if so, whether intermediate factors underlie the associations. US patients initiating dialysis in 2002 were studied using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ESRD database. Anemia persistence (time in months with hemoglobin below 110 g/L) was determined in a six-month entry period, and outcomes were assessed in the subsequent six-month follow-up period. The structural equation modeling technique was used to evaluate associations between persistent anemia and medical costs and to determine intermediate factors for these associations. The study included 28,985 patients. Mean per-patient-per-month medical cost was $6267 (standard deviation $5713) in the six-month follow-up period. Each additional month with hemoglobin below 110 g/L was associated with an 8.9% increment in medical cost. The increased cost was associated with increased erythropoietin use and blood transfusions, and increased rates of hospitalization and vascular access procedures in the follow-up period. Keywords: anemia persistency, end-stage renal disease, medical costs, structural equation modelinghttp://www.dovepress.com/associations-of-anemia-persistency-with-medical-expenditures-in-medica-a3062
spellingShingle Jiannong Liu
Haifeng Guo
David Gilbertson
Robert Foley
et al.
Associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in Medicare ESRD patients on dialysis
Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
title Associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in Medicare ESRD patients on dialysis
title_full Associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in Medicare ESRD patients on dialysis
title_fullStr Associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in Medicare ESRD patients on dialysis
title_full_unstemmed Associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in Medicare ESRD patients on dialysis
title_short Associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in Medicare ESRD patients on dialysis
title_sort associations of anemia persistency with medical expenditures in medicare esrd patients on dialysis
url http://www.dovepress.com/associations-of-anemia-persistency-with-medical-expenditures-in-medica-a3062
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