OBJECTIVES: The main aim of the study is to analyze the economic burden among patients with Chronic Kidney Disease of different stages.

METHODS: An observational study was conducted for a period of 9 months at tertiary care hospital in south India. Renal transplant recipients and pregnant and lactating women were excluded and patients diagnosed with 3 to 5 and HD stages CKD who are aged 18 years and above were included and in the study. Direct and indirect cost were evaluated using the patient interview, prescriptions details and bills. Descriptive analysis was done for demographic data with mean and standard deviation.

RESULTS: A total of 201 patients were enrolled and majority (68.1%) of the study population were male (n=137). Among the study population, the major co-morbidities were Diabetes Mellitus 190 (94.52%) followed by Hypertension 195(97%), CVD 89 (44.27%), Hypothyroidism 26 (12.93%), Rheumatoid Arthritis 20 (9.95%), Arthritis 5(2.48%), Hyper Urecemia 5(2.48%), Liver disease 2(0.99%). The unadjusted estimated social cost of patients with CKD were 9512.82±4375.99 for stage 3, 14259.1±7197.86 for stage 4, 15638.3±8671.43 (219.99USD) for stage 5 and 44910.57±23238.57 for HD patients. This demonstrates that cost increases exponentially with advancing the stages of CKD. Among the Social cost of CKD the transport of patient and caregiver for stage 3, 4 5 & 5D with mean±SD as 1112.5±628.41, 1301.42±1004.43, 1358.33±959.38 and 3209.18±3737.21 respectively. Loss of productivity of patient costs were 1500±345.89, 875±312.48, 333.33±605.53 and 426.22±1383.94 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Current study reveals that the social cost including both direct medical cost and indirect medical cost increases in the advanced stages of CKD. Patients who are on HD had the highest economic burden compared to other stages patients.