MEDICAL COSTS OF TWO RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY METHODS AND DIFFERENCES ACROSS PATIENT GROUPS

Abstract

Background: Renal replacement therapy imposes a substantial financial burden on the healthcare system. Evaluating the costs of different treatment modalities is therefore essential. Objective: This study aims to determine the medical costs of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, and to compare cost differences across selected patient characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using retrospective data on treatment costs of CKD stage 5 patients undergoing HD or PD at Thong Nhat Dong Nai General Hospital. Direct medical costs were evaluated from the perspectives of both the health insurance payer and the patients. Results: The average monthly treatment cost per patient was 11,349,591 VND for HD and 10,457,096 VND for PD. There was a statistically significant difference in total cost and in the portion paid by patients between the two modalities, whereas the cost covered by health insurance did not differ significantly. In univariate analyses, no significant cost differences were observed across patient characteristics in the hemodialysis group, while insurance coverage level was the only factor showing a significant difference in the peritoneal dialysis group. Conclusion: The study highlights the considerable economic burden of renal replacement therapy from both the health insurance and patient perspectives and provides baseline cost estimates for future comparative studies.