Peritoneal dialysis-first initiative in India: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Background. The increasing burden of kidney failure (KF) in India necessitates provision of cost-effective kidney replacement therapy (KRT). We assessed the comparative cost-effectiveness of initiating KRT with peritoneal dialysis (PD) or haemodialysis (HD) in the Indian context. Methods. The cost and clinical effectiveness of starting KRT with either PD or HD were measured in terms of life years (LYs) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) using a mathematical Markov model. Complications such as peritonitis, vascular access-related complications and blood-borne infections were considered. Health system costs, out-of-pocket expenditures borne by patients and indirect costs were included. Two scenarios were considered: Scenario 1 (real-world scenario)-as per the current cost and utilization patterns; Scenario 2 (public programme scenario)-use in the public sector as per Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) guidelines. The lifetime costs and health outcomes among KF patients were assessed. Results. The mean QALYs lived per KF person with PD and HD were estimated to be 3.3 and 1.6, respectively. From a societal perspective, a PD-first policy is cost-saving as compared with an HD-first policy in both Scenarios 1 and 2. If only the costs directly attributable to patient care (direct costs) are considered, the PD-first treatment policy is estimated to be cost-effective only if the price of PD consumables can be brought down to INR70/U. Conclusions. PD as initial treatment is a cost-saving option for management of KF in India as compared with HD first. The government should negotiate the price of PD consumables under the PMNDP.

Automated summary

The study showed that initiating kidney replacement therapy with peritoneal dialysis is a cost-saving option in the Indian context compared to haemodialysis, and becomes cost-effective only when the price of peritoneal dialysis consumables is reduced to a certain level.