title: Cost analysis of an intravenous to subcutaneous epoetin α conversion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A cost analysis of a conversion from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) epoetin α in patients receiving chronic in-center hemodialysis (HD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective analysis compared epoetin α drug costs during a 6-month period of IV usage (July to December 2010, period 1) to a 6-month period of SC usage (July to December 2011, period 2) in four large in-center HD units. Data were collected from quarterly counts of HD patients receiving epoetin α and monthly inventory billing records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  622 HD patients who received IV epoetin α (period 1) were compared to 609 HD patients who received SC epoetin α (period 2). A 12.6% decrease in dose was observed. The average weekly cost of epoetin α was USD 173.02 per patient during the IV period versus USD 151.20 per patient during the SC period. This equated to a yearly cost savings of USD 1,135 per patient with SC epoetin α.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The switch from IV to SC epoetin α was successfully implemented in all four centers and realized significant cost savings.
authors: Manitoba Renal Program, Winnipeg, Man., Canada.
authors: Lori D
authors: LD
authors: Wazny
authors: Colette B
authors: CB
authors: Raymond
authors: Amy R
authors: AR
authors: Sood
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Eng
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Verrelli
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous / Q000191:economics*; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000191:economics*; D008350:Manitoba; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa