Analysis of the carbon footprint of pharmacological treatments in advanced chronic kidney disease and peritoneal dialysis: Oral vs. subcutaneous administration.
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| Title: | Analysis of the carbon footprint of pharmacological treatments in advanced chronic kidney disease and peritoneal dialysis: Oral vs. subcutaneous administration. |
|---|---|
| Alternate Title: | Análisis de la huella de carbono de los tratamientos farmacológicos en enfermedad renal crónica avanzada: administración oral vs. subcutánea. |
| Authors: | Lomas-Calatayud, Susana1, Moncho, Francesc1,2, Gimenez-Civera, Elena1, Puchades, Maria Jesús1,3, Gandía, Lorena2, Forquet, Claudia2, Montomoli, Marco1, Pardillo, Raquel2,4, Alos, Manuel2,4, Panizo, Nayara1 nayapanizo@gmail.com, Górriza, Jose Luis1,2,3 |
| Source: | Nefrologia. May2026, Vol. 46 Issue 5, p1-5. 5p. |
| Subjects: | ORAL drug administration, SUBCUTANEOUS injections, ECOLOGICAL impact, DRUG therapy, CHRONIC kidney failure, SUSTAINABILITY |
| Abstract (English): | Background: Carbon footprint quantification currently stands as the most accepted model for assessing the ecological impact of human activities. Selecting the most environmentally friendly treatment for pathologies arising from advanced chronic kidney disease can reduce the carbon footprint. Methods: We aimed to analyze the carbon footprint from using subcutaneous administration treatments versus oral medication in patients with the same medical condition: advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) (CKD stage 4 or 5 not in dialysis) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). This is an observational, cross-sectional study with 41 patients, 19 receiving oral medication (cinacalcet), and 22 subcutaneously administered erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (darbepoetin alfa). Both treatments were dispensed at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia internal pharmacy. The carbon footprint was calculated using analytical techniques from hybrid life cycle models of the studied medications. For this analysis, three groups were considered: patient and supplies transportation, energy, and waste disposal. Results: A total of 41 patients were included, with a median age of 72 years (IQR: 63–80). No significant between-group differences were detected in analytical parameters. The overall carbon footprint derived from the subcutaneous treatment process with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) was 95,512.93 kg of CO2/ year, compared to 12,199.85 kg of CO2/year resulting from cinacalcet treatment (p < 0.001). Group-wise analysis did not detect significant differences in travel-related consumption. However, in waste generation and transportation, ESA use showed a significantly higher carbon footprint than oral medication use (p < 0.001), partly attributable to the refrigeration energy consumption of darbepoetin (inexistent for cinacalcet). Conclusions: The use of drugs not requiring subcutaneous administration with syringes could significantly reduce healthcare-related carbon footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Abstract (Spanish): | Antecedentes: La cuantificación de la huella de carbono es actualmente el método con mayor aceptación para evaluar el impacto ecológico de las actividades humanas. Seleccionar el tratamiento más respetuoso con el medio ambiente para las patologías derivadas de la enfermedad renal crónica avanzada puede ayudar a reducir la huella de carbono. Métodos: Nuestro objetivo fue analizar la huella de carbono derivada del uso de tratamientos de administración subcutánea frente a la medicación oral en pacientes con la misma condición médica: enfermedad renal crónica avanzada (ERCA) (estadio de ERC 4 o 5 no en diálisis) o diálisis peritoneal (DP). Se trata de un estudio observacional y transversal con 41 pacientes, 19 de los cuales recibían medicación oral (cinacalcet), y 22 un agente estimulante de la eritropoyesis administrado por vía subcutánea (darbepoetina alfa). Ambos tratamientos fueron dispensados en la farmacia hospitalaria del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia. La huella de carbono se calculó mediante técnicas analíticas de modelos híbridos de ciclo de vida de los medicamentos estudiados. Para este análisis se consideraron tres grupos: transporte de pacientes y suministros, consumo de energía y eliminación de residuos. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 41 pacientes, con una mediana de edad de 72 años (rango intercuartílico: 63-80). No se detectaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos en los parámetros analíticos. La huella de carbono global derivada del proceso de tratamiento subcutáneo con agentes estimulantes de la eritropoyesis (AEE) fue de 95.512,93 kg de CO2/año, en comparación con los 12.199,85 kg de CO2/año resultantes del tratamiento con cinacalcet. El análisis por grupos no detectó diferencias significativas en el consumo relacionado con los desplazamientos. Sin embargo, en la generación y transporte de residuos, el uso de AEE mostró una huella de carbono significativamente mayor que el uso de medicación oral, atribuible en parte al consumo de energía por refrigeración de la darbepoetina (inexistente en el caso del cinacalcet). Conclusiones: El uso de fármacos que no requieren refrigeración ni procesos complejos de eliminación de residuos, reduce significativamente el impacto ambiental de las actividades sanitarias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Nefrologia is the property of Revista Nefrologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | MedicLatina |
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| Header | DbId: lth DbLabel: MedicLatina An: 193506735 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Analysis of the carbon footprint of pharmacological treatments in advanced chronic kidney disease and peritoneal dialysis: Oral vs. subcutaneous administration. – Name: TitleAlt Label: Alternate Title Group: TiAlt Data: Análisis de la huella de carbono de los tratamientos farmacológicos en enfermedad renal crónica avanzada: administración oral vs. subcutánea. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lomas-Calatayud%2C+Susana%22">Lomas-Calatayud, Susana</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moncho%2C+Francesc%22">Moncho, Francesc</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gimenez-Civera%2C+Elena%22">Gimenez-Civera, Elena</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Puchades%2C+Maria+Jesús%22">Puchades, Maria Jesús</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gandía%2C+Lorena%22">Gandía, Lorena</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Forquet%2C+Claudia%22">Forquet, Claudia</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Montomoli%2C+Marco%22">Montomoli, Marco</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pardillo%2C+Raquel%22">Pardillo, Raquel</searchLink><relatesTo>2,4</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alos%2C+Manuel%22">Alos, Manuel</searchLink><relatesTo>2,4</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Panizo%2C+Nayara%22">Panizo, Nayara</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> nayapanizo@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Górriza%2C+Jose+Luis%22">Górriza, Jose Luis</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nefrologia%22">Nefrologia</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 46 Issue 5, p1-5. 5p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22ORAL+drug+administration%22">ORAL drug administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22SUBCUTANEOUS+injections%22">SUBCUTANEOUS injections</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22ECOLOGICAL+impact%22">ECOLOGICAL impact</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22DRUG+therapy%22">DRUG therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22CHRONIC+kidney+failure%22">CHRONIC kidney failure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22SUSTAINABILITY%22">SUSTAINABILITY</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract (English) Group: Ab Data: Background: Carbon footprint quantification currently stands as the most accepted model for assessing the ecological impact of human activities. Selecting the most environmentally friendly treatment for pathologies arising from advanced chronic kidney disease can reduce the carbon footprint. Methods: We aimed to analyze the carbon footprint from using subcutaneous administration treatments versus oral medication in patients with the same medical condition: advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) (CKD stage 4 or 5 not in dialysis) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). This is an observational, cross-sectional study with 41 patients, 19 receiving oral medication (cinacalcet), and 22 subcutaneously administered erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (darbepoetin alfa). Both treatments were dispensed at the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia internal pharmacy. The carbon footprint was calculated using analytical techniques from hybrid life cycle models of the studied medications. For this analysis, three groups were considered: patient and supplies transportation, energy, and waste disposal. Results: A total of 41 patients were included, with a median age of 72 years (IQR: 63–80). No significant between-group differences were detected in analytical parameters. The overall carbon footprint derived from the subcutaneous treatment process with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) was 95,512.93 kg of CO2/ year, compared to 12,199.85 kg of CO2/year resulting from cinacalcet treatment (p < 0.001). Group-wise analysis did not detect significant differences in travel-related consumption. However, in waste generation and transportation, ESA use showed a significantly higher carbon footprint than oral medication use (p < 0.001), partly attributable to the refrigeration energy consumption of darbepoetin (inexistent for cinacalcet). Conclusions: The use of drugs not requiring subcutaneous administration with syringes could significantly reduce healthcare-related carbon footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract (Spanish) Group: Ab Data: Antecedentes: La cuantificación de la huella de carbono es actualmente el método con mayor aceptación para evaluar el impacto ecológico de las actividades humanas. Seleccionar el tratamiento más respetuoso con el medio ambiente para las patologías derivadas de la enfermedad renal crónica avanzada puede ayudar a reducir la huella de carbono. Métodos: Nuestro objetivo fue analizar la huella de carbono derivada del uso de tratamientos de administración subcutánea frente a la medicación oral en pacientes con la misma condición médica: enfermedad renal crónica avanzada (ERCA) (estadio de ERC 4 o 5 no en diálisis) o diálisis peritoneal (DP). Se trata de un estudio observacional y transversal con 41 pacientes, 19 de los cuales recibían medicación oral (cinacalcet), y 22 un agente estimulante de la eritropoyesis administrado por vía subcutánea (darbepoetina alfa). Ambos tratamientos fueron dispensados en la farmacia hospitalaria del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia. La huella de carbono se calculó mediante técnicas analíticas de modelos híbridos de ciclo de vida de los medicamentos estudiados. Para este análisis se consideraron tres grupos: transporte de pacientes y suministros, consumo de energía y eliminación de residuos. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 41 pacientes, con una mediana de edad de 72 años (rango intercuartílico: 63-80). No se detectaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos en los parámetros analíticos. La huella de carbono global derivada del proceso de tratamiento subcutáneo con agentes estimulantes de la eritropoyesis (AEE) fue de 95.512,93 kg de CO2/año, en comparación con los 12.199,85 kg de CO2/año resultantes del tratamiento con cinacalcet. El análisis por grupos no detectó diferencias significativas en el consumo relacionado con los desplazamientos. Sin embargo, en la generación y transporte de residuos, el uso de AEE mostró una huella de carbono significativamente mayor que el uso de medicación oral, atribuible en parte al consumo de energía por refrigeración de la darbepoetina (inexistente en el caso del cinacalcet). Conclusiones: El uso de fármacos que no requieren refrigeración ni procesos complejos de eliminación de residuos, reduce significativamente el impacto ambiental de las actividades sanitarias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Nefrologia is the property of Revista Nefrologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.nefro.2026.501504 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 5 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: ORAL drug administration Type: general – SubjectFull: SUBCUTANEOUS injections Type: general – SubjectFull: ECOLOGICAL impact Type: general – SubjectFull: DRUG therapy Type: general – SubjectFull: CHRONIC kidney failure Type: general – SubjectFull: SUSTAINABILITY Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Analysis of the carbon footprint of pharmacological treatments in advanced chronic kidney disease and peritoneal dialysis: Oral vs. subcutaneous administration. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lomas-Calatayud, Susana – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Moncho, Francesc – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Gimenez-Civera, Elena – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Puchades, Maria Jesús – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Gandía, Lorena – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Forquet, Claudia – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Montomoli, Marco – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Pardillo, Raquel – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Alos, Manuel – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Panizo, Nayara – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Górriza, Jose Luis IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 02116995 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 46 – Type: issue Value: 5 Titles: – TitleFull: Nefrologia Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
