Peritoneal dialysis-first initiative in India: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: The increasing burden of kidney failure (KF) in India necessitates provision of cost-effective kidney replacement therapy (KRT). We assessed the comparative cost-effectiveness of initiating KRT with peritoneal dialysis (PD) or haemodialysis (HD) in the Indian context.

Methods: The cost and clinical effectiveness of starting KRT with either PD or HD were measured in terms of life years (LYs) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) using a mathematical Markov model. Complications such as peritonitis, vascular access-related complications and blood-borne infections were considered. Health system costs, out-of-pocket expenditures borne by patients and indirect costs were included. Two scenarios were considered: Scenario 1 (real-world scenario)-as per the current cost and utilization patterns; Scenario 2 (public programme scenario)-use in the public sector as per Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) guidelines. The lifetime costs and health outcomes among KF patients were assessed.

Results: The mean QALYs lived per KF person with PD and HD were estimated to be 3.3 and 1.6, respectively. From a societal perspective, a PD-first policy is cost-saving as compared with an HD-first policy in both Scenarios 1 and 2. If only the costs directly attributable to patient care (direct costs) are considered, the PD-first treatment policy is estimated to be cost-effective only if the price of PD consumables can be brought down to INR70/U.

Conclusions: PD as initial treatment is a cost-saving option for management of KF in India as compared with HD first. The government should negotiate the price of PD consumables under the PMNDP.