The outpatient cost of diabetes care in Italian diabetes centers.
OBJECTIVE
To provide resource utilization patterns and cost estimates of outpatient care for types I and II diabetes mellitus in Italy, based on retrospectively collected data.


METHODS
Multicenter, retrospective observational study analyzing individual costs in a sample of patients with diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
A total of 2260 patients were stratified into eight groups by type of diabetes, glycemic control, and age.


METHODS
Thirty-five centers for diabetes care in Italy.


RESULTS
The per-patient cost of treatment was [symbol: see text] 136.8 in two months for type I diabetes (N = 592) and [symbol: see text] 123.3 for type II diabetes (N = 1668). Pharmaceutical therapy consisting of antidiabetic drugs only accounted for only 32% to 36% of treatments cost in type I patients and between 13% and 24% in type II. Diagnostic tests accounted for 27% to 42% of treatment costs in patients with both type I and type II diabetes, day-hospital days accounted for 15% to 22% in type I, 25% to 27% in type II, and consultations accounted for 16% to 20% in type I patients and between 17% and 21% in type II diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite limitations caused by the short period considered, and considering that in Italy the cost of diabetes has received limited attention, we believe this study presents some interesting information on the burden of diabetes in this country.
Garattini
L
L
CESAV (Centro di Economia Sanitaria Angelo & Angela Valenti), Instituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Ranica, Bergamo, Italia. liviogarattini@tiscalinet.it
Tediosi
F
F
Chiaffarino
F
F
Roggeri
D
D
Parazzini
F
F
Coscelli
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000191:economics*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004180:Direct Service Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose