Direct health care costs of diabetic patients in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to estimate the health care resources spent by type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients in Spain during the year 2002.


METHODS
This is a cost-of-illness study focusing on direct health care costs estimated from primary and secondary sources of information. A prevalence of diabetes ranging from 5 to 6% of the adult population was determined. Total cost is composed of six items: insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents, other drugs, disposable and consumable goods (glucose test strips, needles, and syringes), hospitalization, primary care visits, and visits to endocrinologists and dialysis.


RESULTS
The estimated direct cost of diabetes in 2002 ranges from 2.4 to 2.67 billion euro. Hospital costs were the most (933 million euro), followed by noninsulin, nonhypoglycemic agent drugs (777-932 million euro). Much lower are the costs of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents (311 million euro), primary care visits (181-272 million euro), specialized visits (127-145 million euro), and disposable elements (70-81 million euro). Expenditures for all drugs and consumable goods ranged between 1.16 and 1.3 billion euro, representing 48-49% of total cost, which is 15% higher than hospital costs.


CONCLUSIONS
The direct health care costs of diabetic patients are high (6.3-7.4% of total National Health System expenditure). Their average annual cost is 1,290-1,476 euro. For individuals without diabetes, the average annual cost is 865 euro.
Oliva
Juan
J
Department of Economics, University Carlos III de Madrid, Getafe, Madrid, Spain. joliva@eco.uc3m.es <joliva@eco.uc3m.es>
Lobo
Félix
F
Molina
Begoña
B
Monereo
Susana
S
D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D016527:Drug Costs; D017048:Health Care Costs; D005102:Health Expenditures; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics; D013030:Spain
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin