A New Cost-Benefit Economic Model Approach of Hemodialyzer Reuse

Abstract

In this study, a new cost-benefit economic model for hemodialyzer reuse has been developed considering all of the direct costs (dialyzer price, disinfection fluid price, reverse osmosis water cost, personnel, and miscellaneous) as well as the number of disinfections applied to the hemodialyzer. The maximum number of disinfections/reuses for different models of hemodialyzer was estimated using statistical analysis based on the information obtained from a total of 60 adult patients on maintenance hemodialysis for approximately 4 years; from a hospital in Santiago de Cuba province, Cuba. An equal number of treatments (100) was evaluated for each hemodialyzer including 2,800 total reuses. The total cost savings for reuse/disinfection using the new economic approach is compared with the single-use modality. Obtained results by applying the proposed model indicated that the correlation between the economic advantages of the reuse/disinfection process in the total cost of the hemodialysis treatment significantly depends on the type of hemodialyzer used for the treatment, the disinfection price, the virgin hemodialyzer price, the disposal cost and its price reduction because of the number of reuses and the maximum possible reuses that could be applied to the hemodialyzer.