A comparative study of epidemiological characteristics, treatment outcomes, and mortality among patients undergoing hemodialysis by health insurance types: data from the Korean Renal Data System.

Background: The prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis has progressively increased. Therefore, to achieve financial stability by managing the increasing numbers of patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), a fixed-payment system was introduced in 2001 for medical aid (MA) beneficiaries receiving HD in Korea.

Methods: We identified patients in the Korean Renal Data System that received HD between 2001 and 2017 and stratified them into the following two groups: the National Health Insurance (NHI) and MA groups. Then, we compared the two groups that differed in demographic characteristics, the treatment process and outcomes, and mortality based on health insurance type.

Results: Among 52,574 patients, the number of patients aged 65 years or older, hypertension was higher in the NHI group, but diabetes was higher in the MA group. Additionally, the MA group had more weekly dialysis sessions, and expensive drugs tended to be used less frequently. Regarding treatment outcomes, including laboratory test results, the MA group achieved significantly lower goals than the NHI group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the mortality rate per 1,000 persons was 31 and 27 in the MA and NHI groups, respectively, and the mortality rate ratio was 1.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.076-1.230). Moreover, the hazard ratio for mortality was 1.39 (95% CI, 1.30-1.49, p < 0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, causes of ESRD, and comorbidities.

Conclusion: There were significant differences in the treatment and mortality indicators between the groups. Therefore, policy support should be strengthened to provide better medical services to MA beneficiaries undergoing HD.