Healthcare Costs of Chronic Kidney Disease in Jordan: A Retrospective Longitudinal Cohort Study
RMA Obeidat, AY Naser, AA Alsharif, R MousaBackground:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major contributor to morbidity and healthcare costs worldwide.
Aim:
We aimed to evaluate the direct treatment charges associated with CKD across different stages and to estimate the overall direct healthcare costs of CKD in Jordan.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted at two major university-affiliated hospitals in Jordan, King Abdullah University Hospital in Irbid and Jordan University Hospital in Amman, for both inpatients and outpatients from 2013 to 2023. Charges were analyzed across the first and second years of follow-up, CKD stages, kidney replacement therapy, kidney function tests, and overall treatment charges per patient. The annual direct healthcare costs of CKD were then calculated.
Results:
A total of 23,017 CKD patients were included. Median charges increased with disease severity: For stages 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5, they were 462.33 JOD, 578.45 JOD, 576.11 JOD, 755.43 JOD, 1,058 JOD, and 1,307 JOD, respectively. Hemodialysis and comorbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases significantly increased charges. The Charlson Comorbidity Index, dialysis status, and CKD stage were strong predictors of higher expenditures.
Conclusion:
CKD imposes significant clinical and economic burdens in Jordan, with increasing severity across disease stages and a rise in associated healthcare utilization and costs.