Supplementary Material for: Cost Analysis of an Intravenous to Subcutaneous Epoetin α Conversion

Background/Aims: A cost analysis of a conversion from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) epoetin α in patients receiving chronic in-center hemodialysis (HD). Methods: This retrospective analysis compared epoetin α drug costs during a 6-month period of IV usage (July to December 2010, period 1) to a 6-month period of SC usage (July to December 2011, period 2) in four large in-center HD units. Data were collected from quarterly counts of HD patients receiving epoetin α and monthly inventory billing records. Results: 622 HD patients who received IV epoetin α (period 1) were compared to 609 HD patients who received SC epoetin α (period 2). A 12.6% decrease in dose was observed. The average weekly cost of epoetin α was USD 173.02 per patient during the IV period versus USD 151.20 per patient during the SC period. This equated to a yearly cost savings of USD 1,135 per patient with SC epoetin α. Conclusion: The switch from IV to SC epoetin α was successfully implemented in all four centers and realized significant cost savings.