Healthcare resource utilization for anemia management: current practice with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and the impact of converting to once-monthly C.E.R.A.
Background andMethods: A prospective, observational study in 12 German and UK dialysis centers which quantified personnel time for anemia treatment using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Tasks directly observable were measured through the time-and-motion method; time for non-observable tasks was estimated by healthcare staff. Using activity-based costing methods, time was converted into monetary units. Modeling was used to estimate potential time and cost savings using once-monthly C.E.R.A., a continuous erythropoietin receptor activator.


RESULTS
For current ESAs in Germany and the UK, respectively: mean observed time was 1.67 and 2.67 min/patient/administration, corresponding to 31 and 42 days/year/center/100 patients; mean total time/center/100 patients/year was estimated at 79 and 95 days, equivalent to EUR 17,031 and GBP 18,739. Assuming 100% once-monthly C.E.R.A. uptake, the observed time/patient/year may decrease by 79 and 84% in Germany and the UK, respectively, compared with traditional ESAs.


CONCLUSIONS
Conversion to once-monthly C.E.R.A. may offer the potential to reduce time spent on ESA administration in hemodialysis centers.
Saueressig
Ulrich
U
Gemeinschaftspraxis, Wuppertal, Germany. usaueressig@gmx.de
Kwan
Jonathan T C
JT
De Cock
Erwin
E
Sapède
Claudine
C
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings; D019468:Disease Management; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005858:Germany; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000191:economics; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom
D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C508420:continuous erythropoietin receptor activator; D004921:Erythropoietin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols