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Ultrapure versus standard dialysate: A cost‐benefit analysis
Author(s) -
Upadhyay Ashish,
Susantitaphong Paweena,
Jaber Bertrand L.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
seminars in dialysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1525-139X
pISSN - 0894-0959
DOI - 10.1111/sdi.12618
Subject(s) - medicine , erythropoietin , ultrapure water , hemodialysis , intensive care medicine , environmental science , environmental engineering
Low‐level bacterial and endotoxin contamination of water used to generate dialysate propagates chronic inflammation in patients with a wide‐range of potential adverse consequences, including erythropoietin hyporesponsiveness. Advancements in hemodialysis systems now allow for the generation of ultrapure dialysate that has lower bacterial and endotoxin levels than the standard dialysate. The cost associated with ultrapure dialysate is thought to be a major barrier to its widespread adoption. In this report, we conduct a cost‐benefit analysis examining the excess cost of generating ultrapure dialysate and the potential cost saving from a lower erythropoietin dose requirement. Our analysis suggests a potential cost saving of approximately $371 to $425 million per year with full adoption of ultrapure dialysate in the United States.