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. 2011 Dec;35(6):567-70.
doi: 10.4093/dmj.2011.35.6.567. Epub 2011 Dec 26.

Costs of diabetes mellitus in Korea

Kwan Woo Lee  1
Affiliations

Costs of diabetes mellitus in Korea

Kwan Woo Lee. Diabetes Metab J. 2011 Dec.

Abstract

Outcome research focusing on the economics of the medical field began in the mid-1990s and has included studies about costs, cost effectiveness, and policies. According to the American Diabetes Association, the total estimated cost of diabetes in 2007 was $174 billion. The economic burden of patients with diabetes in Canada is expected to be about $12.2 billion in 2010. Recent Korean studies have analyzed the expenses associated with type 2 diabetes for patients in selected general hospitals. Type 2 diabetic patients without complications cost approximately 1,184,563 won (the equivalent of US $1,184) per patient for healthcare annually. In contrast, patients with microvascular disease due to diabetic complications cost up to 4.7 times that amount, and patients with macrovascular disease incur up to 10.7 times the annual costs for patients without diabetic complications. Diabetic complications ultimately impact the quality of life for patients and patient mortality, and are associated with higher direct medical expenses for patients. To avoid increased medical costs, appropriate management techniques must be implemented to ensure timely care for patients with diabetes.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Outcome research.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Annual medical costs per patient according to the presence of diabetic complications in Korea.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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