The hidden financial catastrophe of chronic kidney disease under universal coverage and Thai "Peritoneal Dialysis First Policy".

Objective: Universal health coverage can decrease the magnitude of the individual patient's financial burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the residual financial hardship from the patients' perspective has not been well-studied in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to evaluate the residual financial burden in patients with CKD stage 3 to dialysis in the "PD First Policy" under Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in Thailand. Methods: This multicenter nationwide cross-sectional study in Thailand enrolled 1,224 patients with pre-dialysis CKD, hemodialysis (HD), and peritoneal dialysis (PD) covered by UCS and other health schemes for employees and civil servants. We interviewed patients to estimate the proportion with catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and medical impoverishment. The risk factors associated with CHE were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Results: Under UCS, the total out-of-pocket expenditure in HD was over two times higher than PD and nearly six times higher than CKD stages 3-4. HD suffered significantly more CHE and medical impoverishment than PD and pre-dialysis CKD [CHE: 8.5, 9.3, 19.5, 50.0% (p < 0.001) and medical impoverishment: 8.0, 3.1, 11.5, 31.6% (p < 0.001) for CKD Stages 3-4, Stage 5, PD, and HD, respectively]. In the poorest quintile of UCS, medical impoverishment was present in all HD and two-thirds of PD patients. Travel cost was the main driver of CHE in HD. In UCS, the adjusted risk of CHE increased in PD and HD (OR: 3.5 and 16.3, respectively) compared to CKD stage 3. Conclusions: Despite universal coverage, the residual financial burden remained high in patients with kidney failure. CHE was considerably lower in PD than HD, although the rates remained alarmingly high in the poor. The "PD First' program" could serve as a model for other LMICs. However, strategies to minimize financial distress should be further developed, especially for the poor.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Adults Hospitalized with Dengue Viral Infection and Acute Kidney Injury in Southern Thailand.

Dengue viral infection (DVI) among adult patients is increasingly problematic in tropical and subtropical regions. Acute kidney injury (AKI) after DVI poses substantial clinical outcomes and economic impact. This prospective study focused on the characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of adult patients with AKI due to DVI hospitalized in nine network hospitals within Southern Thailand from January 2017 to December 2019. Among 120 adult patients hospitalized due to DVI without preexisting kidney diseases, 17 patients (14%) presented with AKI. During hospitalization, four patients required acute hemodialysis. The predominant characteristic of urinalysis was proteinuria, followed by pyuria and hematuria with remarkable dysmorphic red blood cells. Complications included acidosis, followed by hyperkalemia and volume overload. Most complications and deterioration of renal function occurred within the first week, but renal function recovered in second week of hospitalization. Stability of renal function was regained within the fourth week to the third month. However, four AKI patients recovered, with estimated glomerular filtration rate >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 within 3 months. Forty-day mortality rate and resource utilization, including hospital cost and length of hospitalization, among those with AKI were significantly higher than those without AKI. Thirty-day and in-hospital mortality rate among those with AKI was also higher than those without AKI. High APACHE II scores due to bleeding disorder and current use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent were significantly associated with the emergence of AKI. Acute kidney injury among adult patients hospitalized due to DVI should be a concern and should be monitored for prompt treatment and follow-up.