Protein-energy wasting significantly increases healthcare utilization and costs among patients with chronic kidney disease: a propensity-score matched cohort study
Journal
Current Medical Research and Opinion
Journal Volume
33
Journal Issue
9
Pages
1705-1713
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Disease-related malnutrition is highly prevalent, and has prognostic implications for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, few studies have investigated the impact of malnutrition, or protein-energy wasting (PEW), on healthcare utilization and medical expenditure among CKD patients. Methods: Using claim data from the National Health Insurance in Taiwan, this study identified patients with CKD between 2009–2013 and categorized them into those with mild, moderate, or severe CKD. Cases with PEW after CKD was diagnosed were propensity-score matched with controls in a 1:4 ratio. Healthcare resource utilization metrics were compared, including outpatient and emergency department visits, frequency and duration of hospitalization, and the cumulative costs associated with different CKD severity. Results: From among 347,501 CKD patients, eligible cohorts of 66,872 with mild CKD (49.2%), 27,122 with moderate CKD (19.9%), and 42,013 with severe CKD (30.9%) were selected. Malnourished CKD patients had significantly higher rates of hospitalization (p <.001 for all severities) and re-admission (p =.015 for mild CKD, p =.002 for severe CKD) than non-malnourished controls. Cumulative medical costs for outpatient and emergency visits, and hospitalization, were significantly higher among all malnourished CKD patients than non-malnourished ones (p <.001); total medical costs were also higher among malnourished patients with mild (62.9%), moderate (59.6%), or severe (43.6%) CKD compared to non-malnourished patients (p <.001). Conclusions: In a nationally-representative cohort, CKD patients with PEW had significantly more healthcare resource utilization and higher aggregate medical costs than those without, across the spectrum of CKD: preventing PEW in CKD patients should receive high priority if we would like to reduce medical costs. ? 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Other Subjects
aged; Article; chronic kidney failure; cohort analysis; controlled study; cost of illness; disease severity; emergency care; female; health care cost; health care utilization; hospital cost; hospital readmission; hospitalization; human; major clinical study; male; mild renal impairment; moderate renal impairment; outpatient care; propensity score; protein calorie malnutrition; severe renal impairment; chronic kidney failure; complication; cost; health care cost; middle aged; patient attitude; prevalence; prognosis; propensity score; protein calorie malnutrition; statistics and numerical data; Taiwan; very elderly; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Costs and Cost Analysis; Female; Health Expenditures; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Prevalence; Prognosis; Propensity Score; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Taiwan
Publisher
Taylor and Francis Ltd
Type
journal article