An economic evaluation of irbesartan in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and nephropathy: cost-effectiveness of Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT) in the Belgian and French settings

Background. In the Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT), treatment with irbesartan demonstrated 23 and 20% reductions in the combined endpoint of doubling of serum creatinine (DSC), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy compared with amlodipine and control, respectively. A simulation model was developed to project long-term cost consequences of the IDNT in Belgium and France. Methods. A Markov model simulated progression from nephropathy to DSC, ESRD and death in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy. Treatment-specific probabilities were derived from IDNT. Country-specific ESRD-related data were retrieved from published sources. Delay in onset of ESRD, life expectancy and mean lifetime costs were calculated for patients with a baseline age of 59 years. Future costs were discounted at 3% per annum (p.a.), and clinical benefits were discounted at 0 and 3% p.a.. Extensive sensitivity analyses were performed. Results. Onset of ESRD was delayed with irbesartan by 1.41 and 1.35 years vs amlodipine and control, respectively. When a 10-year time horizon was considered, delay in ESRD onset led to anticipated improvements in life expectancy of 0.13 years vs amlodipine and 0.26 years vs control. Irbesartan was associated with cost savings of €14 949 and €9205/patient in Belgium, and €20 128 and €13 337 in France, vs amlodipine and control, respectively. The results were robust under a wide range of plausible assumptions. Conclusions. Treating patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy using irbesartan was both cost- and life-saving compared with amlodipine and contro

Health economics studies assessing irbesartan use in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and microalbuminuria

Health economics studies assessing irbesartan use in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and microalbuminuria. Two studies comparing the cost-effectiveness of irbesartan to similar blood pressure control with standard antihypertensive medications (excluding angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and other angiotensin receptor blockers) in treatment of patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and microalbuminuria have been published to date; one in a United States setting, the other in a Spanish setting. Both studies were based on a Markov-based Monte Carlo simulation model, with the effects of irbesartan or standard blood pressure control taken from the Irbesartan Reduction of Microalbuminuria-2 (IRMA-2) and the Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT) clinical trials. In both Spanish and U.S. settings, irbesartan was projected to delay the onset of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), reduce the cumulative incidence of ESRD, increase life expectancy, and reduce overall direct medical costs. Irbesartan treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and microalbuminuria may lead to major improvements in long-term patient outcomes, with substantial cost savings as an added bonus to third party payers

Phosphorus binding with ferric citrate is associated with fewer hospitalizations and reduced hospitalization costs

BACKGROUND: Ferric citrate (FC) is a new phosphorus binder shown to increase serum iron stores while reducing intravenous iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent usage. Such reductions could lower hospitalization rates and associated costs. METHODS: Hospitalizations during a Phase III trial were compared between FC and active control (AC). Hospitalization costs were estimated using the 2013 US Renal Data System Annual Data Report. RESULTS: 34.6% of FC patients were hospitalized at least once versus 45.6% of the AC group (risk reduction 24.2%; p = 0.02). There were 181 unique hospitalizations in the FC group versus 239 in the AC group, for a difference of 58 hospitalizations. Total potential savings was US$867,622 in hospitalization costs in the FC group. If the hospitalization reduction in our study was applied to the general end-stage renal disease population, this could translate into a savings of US$ 3002/patient/year. CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving FC experienced fewer hospitalizations with the potential for significant savings

Reproducibility of studies of peritoneal dialysis adequacy

Reproducibility of studies of peritoneal dialysis adequacy. To assess the variability and reproducibility of dialysis adequacy clearance measurements (weekly Kt/V and weekly creatinine clearance/1.73m2 BSA) in a given patient, 42 patients underwent three clearance studies in a one week period. The dialysis prescription was kept constant. There were 21 males with a group mean age of 49 ± 15 years; 37 patients performed CAPD and 5 DAPD; the dialysis prescription was 6 to 12 liters/day; and 17 patients were anuric. To assess test variability within each patient, the coefficient of variation (CV) and the range were determined for each patient's three clearance values, and for the factors that determine those values. These were averaged to determine the mean patient variability (CV and range) of those measurements. The mean patient CV of the weekly Kt/V was 8.1%. The mean patient range of the weekly Kt/V was 0.30. Of the determinants of total Kt/V, the greatest variability (CV) existed in residual renal urea clearance at 35.4%, with moderate variability seen for peritoneal dialysis urea clearance at 7.0%, which was more a function of variability in D/P urea (CV = 6.3%) than variability in drain volume (CV = 4.1%). There was little variability in V (CV = 0.6%). Similar results were seen for the variability in weekly creatinine clearance measurements. We found that the day-to-day reproducibility of Kt/V measurements is limited, especially in patients with residual renal function, although day-to-day variability in D/P urea also affects Kt/V reproducibility in all patients. Values that fall into the borderline “adequate” range may need to be repeated when considering a patient's dialysis prescription. In addition, research that involves the measurement of Kt/V should utilize more than one collection to increase the reliability of those measurements

Free pentosidine and neopterin as markers of progression rate in diabetic nephropathy

Free pentosidine and neopterin as markers of progression rate in diabetic nephropathy.BackgroundPatients with diabetic nephropathy experience a progressive and usually inexorable decline in renal function. The presence of the structurally defined advanced glycation end product (AGE) pentosidine on tissue and circulating proteins has been correlated with the severity of diabetic complications.MethodsTo delineate a role for this AGE in the progression of diabetic nephropathy, glycohemoglobin and free and protein-bound pentosidine were measured in baseline stored serum and urine from a subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus and proteinuria originally followed by the Collaborative Study Group Trial. To delineate a potential role for an immune-activation response to AGEs, the inflammatory markers, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the monocyte activation marker neopterin were also measured at baseline. The patients chosen represented 67 subjects whose creatinine levels had “doubled” over the course of the study whether or not they later were treated with captopril, and 67 paired “non-doublers.”ResultsBaseline disease activity, as manifested by glycohemoglobin, serum creatinine and degree of proteinuria was equal in the two groups, as was protein-bound pentosidine and the immune-markers IL-6 and CRP. At baseline the “doublers” as compared to the “non-doublers” had elevated serum levels of free pentosidine and neopterin. Baseline increases in these two parameters were also associated with an increased rate of “doubling” of serum creatinine by the proportional hazards method.ConclusionDifferences in individual responsiveness to AGEs, as manifested by either the production of free pentosidine or its release from a protein-bound form, and by evidence of monocyte/macrophage activation, are associated with progression of diabetic nephropathy

Ferric Citrate, an Iron-Based Phosphate Binder, Reduces Health Care Costs in Patients on Dialysis Based on Randomized Clinical Trial Data

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) require phosphate binders for hyperphosphatemia and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous (i.v.) iron for anemia. Ferric citrate (FC) is a novel, iron-based phosphate binder that increases iron stores and decreases i.v. iron and ESA usage while maintaining hemoglobin levels, and may decrease the cost of ESRD care. The study objectives were to (1) quantify differences in ESA and i.v. iron usage among ESRD patients receiving FC compared with active control (AC) (sevelamer carbonate and/or calcium acetate) on the basis of data from a 52-week phase III clinical trial and (2) standardize trial data to the general United States (US) ESRD population and calculate the potential impact of FC on ESRD cost/patient/year in the USA. STUDY DESIGN: The study was a randomized, controlled clinical trial. SETTING AND POPULATION: A total of 441 adult subjects with ESRD who received FC or AC for 52 weeks were included. MODEL, PERSPECTIVE, AND TIMELINE: Differences in ESA and i.v. iron usage between the treatment groups were modeled over time using generalized linear mixed models and zero-inflated Poisson models. Trends were modeled via logarithmic curves, and utilization patterns were applied to the general dialysis population to estimate expected resource savings. OUTCOMES: Study outcomes were costs saved/patient/year using FC versus AC (US dollars). RESULTS: Our model suggests an annual decrease of 129,106 U of ESAs and 1960 mg of i.v. iron per patient in the second year after a switch from AC to FC. Applying 2013 Medicare pricing, this would save $1585 in ESAs and$516 in i.v. iron: a total of $2101/patient/year; these savings would be expected to double for managed care plans. LIMITATIONS: The projections were made on 1 year of trial data. CONCLUSIONS: Phosphate binding with FC reduces i.v. iron and ESA usage. Given the high cost burden of ESRD, our model demonstrates significant potential cost savings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01191255) http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01191255

Use of Intravenous Iodinated Contrast Media in Patients with Kidney Disease: Consensus Statements from the American College of Radiology and the National Kidney Foundation

Intravenous iodinated contrast media are commonly used with CT to evaluate disease and to determine treatment response. The risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) developing in patients with reduced kidney function following exposure to intravenous iodinated contrast media has been overstated. This is due primarily to historic lack of control groups sufficient to separate contrast-induced AKI (CI-AKI; ie, AKI caused by contrast media administration) from contrast-associated AKI (CA-AKI; ie, AKI coincident to contrast media administration). Although the true risk of CI-AKI remains uncertain for patients with severe kidney disease, prophylaxis with intravenous normal saline is indicated for patients who have AKI or an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) who are not undergoing maintenance dialysis. In individual high-risk circumstances, prophylaxis may be considered in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 30-44 mL/min/1.73 m(2) at the discretion of the ordering clinician. This article is a simultaneous joint publication in Radiology and Kidney Medicine. The articles are identical except for stylistic changes in keeping with each journal\u27s style. Either version may be used in citing this article