A quality and cost-benefit analysis of dialyzer reuse in hemodialysis patients.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the benefits of dialyzer reuse for hemodialysis (HD) patients, including the cost of HD treatment and patient's survival, a comparison was made regarding the standard practice of single-use dialysis.


METHODS
From January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2005, a total of 128,232 successive HD treatments in 822 patients in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center were included in this study.


RESULTS
Approximately 54.25% (446/822) of patients reused dialyzers. The average times of dialyzer reuse was 2.54. The annual hollow fiber cost is reduced by $241,054.08 U.S. dollars (NT $7,834,257.60). The annual cost of hollow fiber was reduced by $540.48 U.S. dollars (NT $17,565.60) in one patient with dialyzer reuse. The mortality rates in dialyzer reuse and single use groups were 3.1% and 10.9% within one year (p < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regressions showed that single use compared with reuse was associated with higher mortality after adjusting co-morbid conditions including age, diabetes mellitus, etc. CONCLUSIONS. We concluded that the benefits of dialyzer reuse included safety in our center and reduction in cost during a 12-month period. Dialyzer reuse may be a safe alternative.
Division of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
Feng-Rong
FR
Chuang
Chih-Hsiung
CH
Lee
Hsueh-Wen
HW
Chang
Ching-Nun
CN
Lee
Te-Chuan
TC
Chen
Chung-Hua
CH
Chuang
Terry Ting-Yu
TT
Chiou
Chien-Hsing
CH
Wu
Chih-Chao
CC
Yang
I-Kuan
IK
Wang
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017743:Equipment Reuse / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards; D013624:Taiwan
D008567:Membranes, Artificial