[Economic costs associated to type 1 diabetes]

Abstract

Objective: The objective of our study was to determinate the health resource utilization and economic cost associated to diabetes in a patient group with type 1 diabetes.

Patients and methods: We designed a cross-sectional study that involved 71 type 1 diabetes patients (59.4% women) with 29.2 +/- 12.2 years old mean age and 10.5 +/- 7.9 years of diabetes evolution attended in Endocrinology Service of Puerta del Mar Hospital in Cádiz. Direct and indirect cost associated to diabetes during a year period were determinated by information obtained from patient medical history and hospital, emergency, primary care and medical inspection of social insurance databases.

Results: Type 1 diabetes patients presented a total cost associated to diabetes of 3.311 euros/patient/year (95% IC: 2.202-4.420 euros/patient/year). Direct cost (2.104 euros/patient/year; 95% IC: 1.825-2.383 euros/patient/year) was higher than indirect cost (1.250 euros/patient/year; 95% IC: 291-2.225 euros/patient/year). Multiple regression analysis showed an independent association between total cost associated to diabetes (dependent variable) and variables number of hospitalizations related to diabetes (p = 0.006), pensioner situation (p = 0.02) and micro and macrovascular complications (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: We conclude that economic cost associated to type 1 diabetes is important and presents a notable and independent increase with hospitalizations related to diabetes, pensioner situation and micro and macrovascular complications.