The cost of diabetes mellitus and its impact on health spending in Mexico.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to determine the cost of diabetes mellitus, its impact on health spending in Mexico, and its percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP).


METHODS
There was a four-stage approach: identification of the epidemiology of the use of health services; estimate of treatment cost; determination of the diabetic population, and calculation of the percentage of health spending.


RESULTS
The average annual cost per diabetic patient was $708 U.S. dollars (USD), the total annual cost of diabetics was $2,618,000 USD, the percentage of health spending was 15.48%, and the percentage of the GDP was 0.79%.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to seek strategies that allow for a more efficient use of resources designated for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Villarreal-Ríos
E
E
Unidad de Investigación Epidemiologica y Servicios de Salud, Nuevo León, Mexico. felibree@infosel.net.mx
Salinas-Martínez
A M
AM
Medina-Jáuregui
A
A
Garza-Elizondo
M E
ME
Núñez-Rocha
G
G
Chuy-Díaz
E R
ER
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence