NxStage Dialysis Machine has Lower Carbon Footprint

LAWRENCE, Mass.—NxStage’s System One home hemodialysis machine has less than half the carbon footprint of therapy conducted with traditional in-center hemodialysis machines, according to a study in the January issue of Hemodialysis International.

In the study, "The carbon footprints of home and in-center maintenance hemodialysis in the United Kingdom," lead author Dr. Andrew Connor, Department of Renal Medicine at Derriford Hospital in Derriford, Plymouth, UK, examined the greenhouse gas emissions of in-center hemodialysis (ICHD), home hemodialysis performed using traditional in-center hemodialysis machines, and home hemodialysis performed with the NxStage System One. 

For each maintenance treatment, researchers investigated the emissions factors for energy, medical equipment, "construction" (installation and maintenance of equipment), patient travel, and clinical waste to determine the carbon footprints of each modality.  Annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were expressed in tons of CO₂ per year.

When reviewing the modalities, data showed that three-times weekly in-center hemodialysis (ICHD) has a carbon footprint of 3.8 tons of annual GHG emissions, with the majority of the emissions resulting from the medical supplies and packaging (37 percent), building energy use (21 percent) and patient travel to and from the dialysis center (20 percent). Meanwhile, the three-hour treatments on a 5 to 6 days a week schedule using the NxStage System One has a carbon footprint of 1.8 tons GHG emissions annually—less than half of three times weekly ICHD.  Moreover, NxStage emissions were 75% lower than frequent home hemodialysis regimen using traditional dialysis machines, which had carbon footprints of 5 to 7 tons of annual GHG.

"Efficient use of natural resources while delivering superior clinical results is a core competency of NxStage. Through an innovative product design, the System One is giving thousands of patients the ability to access the improved clinical and quality of life benefits possible with more frequent hemodialysis, without any plumbing or electrical changes," said Jeffrey H. Burbank, Chief Executive Officer, NxStage Medical, Inc.  "NxStage is delighted that hemodialysis with the System One sets the highest bar to date for sustainability in hemodialysis."