OBJECTIVES: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide, with an annual incidence of ~25/1000000. Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) for IgAN patients is not well documented. Here we describe HCRU across four geographical regions.

METHODS: The Adelphi IgAN Disease Specific Programme was a point-in-time survey of IgAN-treating nephrologists in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK (EU5), the US, China, and Japan, June-October 2021. Nephrologists completed online records for successive IgAN patients, including consultation history, tests/assessments, hospitalizations, and dialysis. Analyses were descriptive.

RESULTS: Nephrologists (n=295) completed records for 1792 patients (EU5: n= 618, US: n=305, China: n=587, Japan: n=282). Mean patient age was 43.6 years, 59% were male. Median time since IgAN diagnosis was 2.0 years.

In the 12 months prior to survey, patients had a mean of 7.1 consultations (EU5: 6.5, US: 5.8, China: 7.5, Japan: 9.1) of which 5.6 were with a nephrologist (4.4, 3.8, 7.0, 7.4, respectively). Patients received a mean of 25.4 tests/assessments to monitor their IgAN (EU5: 17.8, US: 15.1, China: 35.4, Japan: 31.6), most commonly blood pressure, serum creatinine and urinalysis. Overall, 25% of patients were hospitalized; hospitalizations were more common in China (44%, 1.8 mean hospitalizations per patient) and Japan (27%, 1.7) than the EU5 (11%, 1.3) and US (8%, 1.1).

At survey, 4% of patients were receiving dialysis. Physicians expected that 46% of the patients not currently receiving it would require chronic dialysis in the future. Kidney transplant had been received by 1% of patients with a further 25% currently on a waiting list.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients in China and Japan consulted, were tested and hospitalized more frequently than in the EU5 and the US. Physicians expect ~half of IgAN patients will require chronic dialysis. Results highlight geographical differences in HCRU which may be impacting IgAN management and patient outcomes.