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. 2004 Mar;14(1):3-9.
doi: 10.1093/eurpub/14.1.3.

Direct medical costs of type 2 diabetes and its complications in Switzerland

Irmgard Schmitt-Koopmann  1 , Matthias Schwenkglenks, Giatgen A Spinas, Thomas D Szucs
Affiliations
Free article

Direct medical costs of type 2 diabetes and its complications in Switzerland

Irmgard Schmitt-Koopmann et al. Eur J Public Health. 2004 Mar.
Free article

Abstract

Background: This paper analyses the direct medical costs of type 2 diabetes and its complications in Switzerland.

Methods: Individual healthcare resource consumption related to type 2 diabetes and its complications was determined retrospectively in 1479 non-incident and non-dying patients over 12 months (1998-1999). Literature-derived attributable risks were used to correct for non-diabetes related macrovascular disease.

Results: A total of 111 primary care physicians from 19 cantons throughout Switzerland participated. Their diabetic patients on average had 10.3 consultations per year related to this disease (95% CI: 10.0-10.7). Patients spent on average 2.7 days (95% CI: 2.2-3.3) per year in hospital due to diabetes and diabetes-related complications. Mean annual type 2 diabetes-related direct medical costs per patient amounted to CHF 3,508 / Euro 2,323 (95% CI: CHF 3,140-3,876 / Euro 2,080-2,567). They were particularly high in patients with insulin treatment or with complications. After application of attributable risks and a correction for the use of adjuvant materials, costs were CHF 3,324 / Euro 2,201. Assuming 250,000 patients with type 2 diabetes in Switzerland leads to an estimate of CHF 0.88 billion spent for this disease and its complications in 1998. This represents a share of about 2.2% of the country's total healthcare expenditures.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the high economic importance of type 2 diabetes and its complications in Switzerland.

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