Cost-Effectiveness of Acceptable-Quality Deceased Donor Kidneys for Transplant in Older Candidates

What is the association of increasing the deceased donor kidney transplantation rate among older candidates using acceptable-quality kidneys with health and economic outcomes?This economic evaluation using a microsimulation model of the deceased donor transplant process for older adults found that increasing the transplant rate by 25% was associated with improved health outcomes and cost $8100 per quality-adjusted life-year gained from the health care sector perspective. This process became cost saving when considering patient and caregiver time costs.These findings suggest that policies aimed at increasing access to acceptable-quality donor kidneys could be associated with cost-effective improvement of the health of older transplant candidates.

Corresponding Author: Matthew B. Kaufmann, PhD, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 729 Mayo, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (kaufm458@umn.edu).

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