Medical Costs With SZC Treatment in Hyperkalemia

At the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings 2023, Jamie P. Dwyer, MD, and colleagues presented results of a real-world study describing the impact of long-term (>3 months) sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) therapy on 6-month medical costs in patients with hyperkalemia. The results were presented in a poster titled Medical Costs in Patients With Hyperkalemia on Long-Term Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate Therapy: RECOGNIZE II Study.

The researchers utilized a large US commercial claims database to retrospectively identify patients ≥18 years of age who were dispensed SZC (>3-month supply over 6 months) between July 2019 and December 2021. Eligibility criteria were continuous insurance coverage 6 months prior to and 6 months following the index SZC fill.

Patients who met inclusion criteria (SZC cohort) were 1:1 exact and propensity-score matched on baseline variables with patients diagnosed with hyperkalemia who did not receive SZC (non-SZC cohort). The primary end point of interest was total hyperkalemia (any diagnosis position) medical costs to payers over 6 months. Secondary end points were hyperkalemia-related medical costs by setting (inpatient, emergency department [ED], outpatient), all-cause medical costs, and all-cause pharmacy costs.

The cohorts each included 661 matched patients. Compared with the non-SZC cohort, mean hyperkalemia-related medical costs were reduced by $3728 in the SZC group (P<.001) per patient and all-cause medical costs were reduced by $5492 (P<.01) per patient. Hyperkalemia-related and all-cause inpatient costs were also reduced in the SZC cohort (P<.001 for both). There was an increase in all-cause pharmacy costs in the SZC group of $3621 (P<.01). There were nonsignificant differences in hyperkalemia-related and all-cause ED and outpatient costs.

“Long-term (>3 months) treatment with SZC was associated with reduced hyperkalemia-related and all-cause medical costs compared with no SZC in patients with hyperkalemia,” the researchers said. “This suggests potential medical cost saving with long-term SZC therapy in patients with hyperkalemia.”

Source: Dwyer JP, Agiro A, Desai P, Oluwatosin Y. Medical costs in patients with hyperkalemia on long-term sodium zirconium cyclosilicate therapy: RECOGNIZE II study. (Poster #285). Abstract of a poster presented at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings 2023; April 11-15, 2023; Austin, Texas. The poster was supported by AstraZeneca.