PURPOSE: We evaluated the economic impact of preventing recurrent stones using a strategy of increased water intake and determined the impact of compliance on cost-effectiveness for the French health care system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Markov model was constructed to compare costs and outcomes for recurrent kidney stone formers with less than 2 L vs 2 L or more daily fluid intake. Model assumptions included an annual prevalence of 120,000 stone episodes in France, 14.4% annual risk of stone recurrence and a 55% risk reduction in subjects with adequate water intake. Costs were based on resource use as estimated by a panel of experts and official national price lists. Outcomes were from the perspective of the public health payer, and encompassed direct and indirect costs. RESULTS: The total cost of an episode of urolithiasis was estimated at €4,267 including the cost of treatment and complications. This corresponds to an annual budget impact of €88 million for recurrent stones based on 21,000 stone events. Assuming 100% compliance with fluid intake recommendations of 2 L daily, 11,572 new stones might be prevented, resulting in a cost savings of €49 million. Compliance with water intake in only 25% of patients would still result in 2,893 fewer stones and a cost savings of €10 million. Varying the costs of managing stones had a smaller impact on outcomes since in many patients stones do not form. Varying the incidence of complications did not change the incidence of stones and had a negligible effect on overall cost. CONCLUSIONS: Preventing recurrent urolithiasis has a significant cost savings potential for a payer as a result of a reduced stone burden. However, compliance is an important factor in determining cost-effectiveness.
PURPOSE: We evaluated the economic impact of preventing recurrent stones using a strategy of increased water intake and determined the impact of compliance on cost-effectiveness for the French health care system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Markov model was constructed to compare costs and outcomes for recurrent kidney stone formers with less than 2 L vs 2 L or more daily fluid intake. Model assumptions included an annual prevalence of 120,000 stone episodes in France, 14.4% annual risk of stone recurrence and a 55% risk reduction in subjects with adequate water intake. Costs were based on resource use as estimated by a panel of experts and official national price lists. Outcomes were from the perspective of the public health payer, and encompassed direct and indirect costs. RESULTS: The total cost of an episode of urolithiasis was estimated at €4,267 including the cost of treatment and complications. This corresponds to an annual budget impact of €88 million for recurrent stones based on 21,000 stone events. Assuming 100% compliance with fluid intake recommendations of 2 L daily, 11,572 new stones might be prevented, resulting in a cost savings of €49 million. Compliance with water intake in only 25% of patients would still result in 2,893 fewer stones and a cost savings of €10 million. Varying the costs of managing stones had a smaller impact on outcomes since in many patients stones do not form. Varying the incidence of complications did not change the incidence of stones and had a negligible effect on overall cost. CONCLUSIONS: Preventing recurrent urolithiasis has a significant cost savings potential for a payer as a result of a reduced stone burden. However, compliance is an important factor in determining cost-effectiveness.
Authors: Evan C Johnson; Colleen X Muñoz; Laurent Le Bellego; Alexis Klein; Douglas J Casa; Carl M Maresh; Lawrence E Armstrong Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2015-01-07 Impact factor: 3.078
Authors: Noah E Canvasser; Peter Alken; Michael Lipkin; Stephen Y Nakada; Hiren S Sodha; Abdulkadir Tepeler; Yair Lotan Journal: World J Urol Date: 2017-01-20 Impact factor: 4.226
Authors: Charles D Scales; Gregory E Tasian; Andrew L Schwaderer; David S Goldfarb; Robert A Star; Ziya Kirkali Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2016-03-10 Impact factor: 8.237