Choice of Hemodialysis Access in Older Adults: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Although arteriovenous fistulas have been found to be the most cost-effective form of hemodialysis access, the relative benefits of placing an arteriovenous fistula versus an arteriovenous graft seem to be least certain for older adults and when placed preemptively. However, older adults' life expectancy is heterogeneous, and most patients do not undergo permanent access creation until after dialysis initiation. We evaluated cost-effectiveness of arteriovenous fistula placement after dialysis initiation in older adults as a function of age and life expectancy.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Using a hypothetical cohort of patients on incident hemodialysis with central venous catheters, we constructed Markov models of three treatment op

SUBMITTER: Hall RK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5460715 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature