Abstract
Introduction
Due to the high rates of mortality and morbidity, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a significant public health concern. Evidence shows that Chinese patent medicine Bailing capsules may help protect kidney function by reducing proteinuria and having potential antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the real-world effectiveness and cost of Bailing capsules in the treatment of patients with CKD stage 3.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted using data from patients newly diagnosed with CKD stage 3 who visited secondary and tertiary hospitals covered by the Tianjin Healthcare and Medical Big Data Platform in China between 2016 and 2021. Incidence rates and incidence densities were analyzed. Cox regression survival analysis was performed to estimate the hazard ratios of disease progression. Data on patient costs were extracted from electronic medical records, including outpatient, emergency, and hospitalization expenses.
Results
A total of 3370 patients were included, with 1337 retained after propensity score matching. The incidence rates for progression from CKD stage 3 to first dialysis and to CKD stage 5 were significantly lower in the exposed group than in the control group (11.79% vs. 18.44%, P = 0.01; 19.39% vs. 27.56%, P = 0.007, respectively). The corresponding incidence density ratios were 0.54 (0.52–0.55) and 0.57 (0.56–0.59), respectively. Cox regression analysis revealed a significantly lower risk of disease progression in the exposed group. The average annual cost was CNY 16 685 (USD 2336) for the exposed group and CNY 29 819 (USD 4175) for the control group.
Conclusion
Bailing capsules were associated with lower medical costs and slower disease progression, indicating their possible role as adjunct therapy. The results also reveal current gaps in evidence quality, emphasizing the need for well-designed prospective studies to confirm effectiveness, minimize confounding, and inform future clinical and policy decision-making.