Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42897541›Full record

Observational studyBMC nephrology2026

Non-technique-related healthcare utilization and costs among dialysis and kidney transplant recipients in Spain: a real-world analysis.

Rafael Santamaria, Carlos Escobar, Unai Aranda, Beatriz Palacios, Margarita Capel, Ignacio Hernández, Ana Cebrián, Manuel Gorostidi, Roberto Alcázar

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC nephrology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rafael SantamariaNephrology Service, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Maimonides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Cordoba (IMIBIC), University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
Carlos EscobarCardiology Service, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain. escobar_cervantes_carlos@hotmail.com.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5584-4735
Unai ArandaGlobal Medical Affairs, BioPharmaceuticals Medical, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA.
Beatriz PalaciosBioPharmaceuticals Medical, AstraZeneca, Madrid, 28050, Spain.
Margarita CapelBioPharmaceuticals Corporate Affairs & Market Access, AstraZeneca, Madrid, 28050, Spain.
Ignacio HernándezAtrys Health, Madrid, 28002, Spain.
Ana CebriánPrimary Care Center Cartagena Casco, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
Manuel GorostidiNephrology Service, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Roberto AlcázarNephrology Service, University Hospital Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKidney failure requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is associated with a substantial and growing economic burden. While the costs directly attributable to KRT modalities are well documented, the resource use and costs unrelated to KRT modalities remain unclear.

objectiveTo quantify healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in patients receiving dialysis or kidney transplantation, excluding technique-related costs.

methodsThis retrospective observational study used BIG-PAC real-world data to analyze dialysis or kidney transplant patients as of January 1, 2018, with a two-year follow-up. Patients were identified based on related diagnostic or procedure codes recorded in electronic health records (EHRs) prior to the index date. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), hospitalization for CKD and mortality were evaluated. HCRU, direct healthcare costs, and indirect productivity costs due to sick leave were assessed, excluding technique-related KRT costs.

resultsOf 70,973 individuals, 356 (0.5%) were on dialysis and 232 (0.3%) had kidney transplantation. Over two years, MACE per 1000 patient-years were 276.3 for dialysis and 85.9 for transplantation. CKD hospitalization rates were 245.7 and 183.0, with mortality rates of 253.8 and 35.6, respectively. First-year health costs averaged €25,410.4 (SD €17,369.0) for dialysis patients and €4,472.8 (SD €2,859.1) for transplant recipients. Most costs among dialysis and kidney transplant patients were driven by hospitalization, 72.4% and 39.8%, respectively. Indirect costs due to sick leave were also substantial.

conclusionNon-technique-related costs represent a substantial component of the overall economic burden in patients receiving KRT, largely driven by hospitalizations. These findings provide important context for healthcare planning, although they do not represent total costs of care and should be interpreted as descriptive estimates.

Indexed as

Health Care CostsKidney Failure, ChronicKidney TransplantationPatient Acceptance of Health CareRenal DialysisAdultAgedFemaleHospitalizationHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSpainCostDialysisHealthcare resource utilizationKidney transplant

Identifiers

PMID42897541
PMCPMC13681900

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.