OBJECTIVES

Hyperphosphatemia is a predictable consequence of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing dialysis. To control their serum phosphorus (SP) levels, these patients require treatment with phosphate binders (PB). Sucroferric oxyhydroxide (SO) is a calcium-free PB with a higher phosphate binding capacity and lower pill burden than other PBs that might improve adherence and may thus lead to more patients achieving effective SP control. Recent retrospective data have shown that patients receiving SO exhibited reduced hospitalization rates and hospital stays compared to patients who switched from SO to other PBs. The objective of this analysis is to translate reduced hospitalization rates, associated with the use of SO, into potential cost-savings for healthcare systems in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

METHODS :

A literature review was conducted, and hospitalization cost data were identified for the in-scope countries. A cost-model was subsequently used to convert real-world hospitalization incidence rates among patients receiving SO or other PBs into hospitalization costs per patient year (PY).

RESULTS :

Compared to patients not receiving SO, patients receiving SO had 39.0 fewer hospital admissions (>24 hours) per 100 PYs [incidence rate ratio = 0.7 (0.54, 0.91)]. Patients receiving PBs other than SO are expected to result in hospitalizations costs of €396,406, €1,505,714, €759,800, €424,532, €1,047,607 per 100 PYs for France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, respectively. SO is likely to result in average hospitalization cost-savings of 30% [Range: 9% - 46%] in France, Germany, Italy and the UK. In Spain, the reduction of hospital stay (-1.25 days) was used to estimate savings of €125,750.

CONCLUSIONS :

SO is a highly effective and potent PB that may result in substantial cost-savings from reducing the morbidity and the corresponding hospitalization that is attributable to uncontrolled hyperphosphatemia among dialysis patients.