title: Phosphorus binding with ferric citrate is associated with fewer hospitalizations and reduced hospitalization costs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ferric citrate (FC) is a new phosphorus binder shown to increase serum iron stores while reducing intravenous iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent usage. Such reductions could lower hospitalization rates and associated costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospitalizations during a Phase III trial were compared between FC and active control (AC). Hospitalization costs were estimated using the 2013 US Renal Data System Annual Data Report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  34.6% of FC patients were hospitalized at least once versus 45.6% of the AC group (risk reduction 24.2%; p = 0.02). There were 181 unique hospitalizations in the FC group versus 239 in the AC group, for a difference of 58 hospitalizations. Total potential savings was US$ 867,622 in hospitalization costs in the FC group. If the hospitalization reduction in our study was applied to the general end-stage renal disease population, this could translate into a savings of US$ 3002/patient/year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients receiving FC experienced fewer hospitalizations with the potential for significant savings.
authors.affiliation: Rush University, 1426 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodby
authors.forename: Kausik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umanath
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niecestro
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sika
authors.forename: Julia B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Jamie P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017046:Cost Savings; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010758:Phosphorus; C025314:ferric citrate
keywords: costs; dialysis; end-stage renal disease; erythropoiesis-stimulating agent; ferric citrate; hospitalization; iron