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  3. 5. Socioeconomic Status of Patients with End Stage Renal Disease and the Microeconomic Impact of Hemodialysis
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5. Socioeconomic Status of Patients with End Stage Renal Disease and the Microeconomic Impact of Hemodialysis

Amer Azhar, Mufti Baleegh-ur-Raheem Mahmood, Ahmad Zeb Khan and Tariq Ikram

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study is to exactly know the socioeconomic status and the microeconomic impact of End Stage Renal Disease in our Hemodialysis dependent patients.

Study Design: Descriptive / cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Nephrology, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan from July 2015 to January 2016.

Materials and Methods: Data concerning the study questions pertaining to the socioeconomic status of hemodialysis patients and the microeconomic impact of hemodialysis dependency was collected on a proforma asking questions about the impact of hemodialysis dependency. Socioeconomic status of patients was assessed using the modified Kuppuswami socioeconomic scale.

Results: A total of 177 ESRD patients on maintenance Hemodialysis were studied, of which 111 (62.7%) patients were male (mean age 43.1 years, SD ±14.8, Range 18-70 years), while the remaining 66 were females (mean age 42.3 years, SD ±15.2, Range 18-80 years)(M:F=1.4:1). Despite Hemodialysis being free of cost, 47.4% patients were spending more than PKR 5000 per month as additional health related cost. Around 93.2% patients were currently unemployed as opposed to 43.5% before hemodialysis. Renal transplantation was not performed in majority (84.7%) patients due to the lack of affordability. Majority of our patients (84.8% males and 74.7% females) belonged to lower middle and upper lower socioeconomic classes.

Conclusion: Thus we conclude that hemodialysis dependency incurs a significant economic cost on our patients. The rate of unemployment is very high in our patients. Most of our patients belong to the lower socioeconomic groups. Other modalities of renal replacement therapy that keep the patients socioeconomically viable such as CAPD and transplantation should be utilized and subsidized instead of hemodialysis alone.

Key Words: End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Hemodialysis, Economic impact, Socioeconomic status.

Citation of articles: Azhar A, Mahmood MBR, Khan AZ, Ikram T. Socioeconomic Status of Patients with End Stage Renal Disease and the Microeconomic Impact of Hemodialysis. Med Forum 2018;29(1):18-22.