The cost of kidney disease

The report, Chronic Kidney Disease in England: The Human and Financial Cost, identified that chronic kidney disease (CKD) costs the NHS in England more than £1.4 bn each year. It says that treating kidney disease, including complications such as heart disease and stroke, costs £1 for every £77 spent by the NHS in England. Nearly half of this sum is spent on renal replacement therapy, yet many people are not receiving help to tackle the disease in its earlier stages which could prevent the need for more expensive dialysis or transplant. Around 1.8 million people in England have been diagnosed with CKD; however there are thought to be around a million more people with CKD who have yet to be diagnosed. The number of people receiving dialysis or transplant increased by 29% between 2002 and 2008. Total prevalence of CKD (diagnosed and undiagnosed) is also believed to be increasing. The report estimated that nearly 30,000 people with CKD are not receiving essential medication to slow its progression, leading to poorer health outcomes. The study also found that half a million people with CKD were not tested in 2009-10 to see if they would benefit from ACEI (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor) or ARB (Angiotensin Receptor Blocker) drugs. Had they been, it estimates that a further 29,000 people might have been prescribed these drugs, which would improve health outcomes and save the NHS around £13 m per year. It is thought that there are around 7,000 extra strokes and 12,000 extra heart attacks each year among people with CKD (‘extra’ meaning over and above those in people of the same age and gender without the condition). The healthcare cost of these extra strokes and heart attacks is estimated to be up to £178 m a year. Social care for people who have had strokes adds an extra £130 m to the total bill. NHS Kidney Care has produced a range of resources to support healthcare professionals to improve care for people with CKD.

Credit: C 2004 American Society of Clinical Oncology