A Study on the Economic Evaluation of End-stage Renal Disease Treatment: Kidney Transplantation Versus Haemodialysis

Abstract

A significant health problem affecting thousands of people worldwide is end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Haemodialysis and kidney transplantation are the two main forms of treatment. Despite the fact that kidney transplantation is a more effective and affordable treatment option, many ESRD patients still undergo haemodialysis due to a variety of reasons, including a lack of opportunity for transplantation, financial limitations and a lack of available donors. By examining the cost and quality of life connected with kidney transplantation and haemodialysis, this research aims to contribute to the economic assessment of ESRD treatments. A total of 268 recipients of kidney transplants and 225 patients receiving haemodialysis made up the study’s sample size. It was carried out at Medanta – The Medicity in Gurugram, Haryana. Haemodialysis costs ₹550,000 per year, while the average expense for a kidney transplant is ₹880,000. However, a straightforward projection indicates that in about 20 months, the cost of haemodialysis patients will equal that of transplant patients. In terms of life satisfaction, kidney transplant recipients reported higher levels of general fulfilment with healthcare services than haemodialysis patients. With a ratio of 1.6:1.75 in terms of expenses versus quality of life (QoL), transplantation of kidneys was found to be more advantageous.