[Structure of treatment expenditures for hemodialysis patients (data of Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in the year 2001)].
Prevalence of the end-stage renal disease patients is rising every year. In Lithuania the cost of hemodialysis procedure is under regulation of the Minister of Health. The objective of our study was to evaluate expenditures for hospitalizations and medical ambulatory treatment using data of Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital dialysis center in the year 2001. We analyzed ambulatory case records of all 111 end-stage renal disease patients dialyzed in our clinic in November 2001. Retrospective data about hospitalizations, hospital beds, expenditures for hospitalizations and medicamental ambulatory treatment were collected. There were 123 hospitalizations in 75 patients, 1967 total hospital days. Admission rate was 1.34+/-1.5 per patient year, 19.82+/-25.96 hospital beds per patient year, the mean duration of each hospitalization - 16.26+/-11.57 days. Expenditures for hospitalizations were 1415 litas ($ 354) per patient year. In average, hemodialysis procedures were carried out 2.5 times a week per patient (or 130 times a year) and expenditures for hemodialysis procedure were 36400 litas ($ 9100) per patient year. The mean number of medications monthly prescribed to hemodialyzed patients was 6.83+/-2.21. Expenditures for these medications were 16240 Lt ($ 4060) per patient year including expenditures for erythropoietin 14976 Lt per patient year. All health insurance expenditures for hemodialyzed patients were 54055 litas ($ 13514) and this was 2-4 fold lower than reported in developed countries.