A systematic review of the economic evaluations of non-calcium-containing phosphate binders, sevelamer and Lanthanum, in end-stage renal disease patients with hyperphosphatemia.

End-stage renal disease is associated with significant comorbidity and mortality. Among its implications, hyperphosphatemia constitutes a consistent and independent risk factor. The use of benchmark treatment, low-cost calcium-based binders declined due to a potential calcification effect on coronary arteries. Given the increasing prevalence of end-stage renal disease and the high cost of hyperphosphatemia's new primary modality, the non-calcium based phosphate binders, we set-off to systematically assess the economic evaluations of non-calcium containing phosphate binders, sevelamer and lanthanum. The study was performed based on a systematic review of the economic evaluations of sevelamer and lanthanum. The cost-effectiveness profile of the two non-calcium-containing Phosphate Binders compared to calcium-based phosphate binders depends on several factors such as future dialysis costs, utility values, age, survival, and phosphorus levels. The comparison between the two agents is rather inconclusive; nevertheless, current review suggests that non-calcium-based phosphate binders may yield a positive cost-effectiveness ratio in patients with inadequate phosphorus management and patient with longer life-expectancy. It is crucial that the literature is endowed with more data, specifically on survival, future dialysis costs, and calcification.