Diabetes--prevalence and cost of illness in Germany: a study evaluating data from the statutory health insurance in Germany.
OBJECTIVE
This population-based study assesses the prevalence and cost of illness as a result of diabetes mellitus in Germany by retrospectively analysing routine health insurance data. Prevalence and costs were analysed from statutory health insurance (GKV) and societal perspectives.


METHODS
The analysis comprises data of all insured persons of six large sickness funds. The insured with diabetes were identified via ICD-9 diagnosis and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC) code for regular medication prescriptions. Costs for inpatient stay, medication and sickness benefits were taken from claims data. Costs for rehabilitation, premature death and early retirement were calculated using the human capital approach and data from national statistics.


RESULTS
Overall diabetes prevalence in this age and sex standardized census of six large sickness funds was 6.45%. The cost of illness for sickness funds including hospital cost, medication and sickness benefits, and excluding ambulatory doctor care, were Euro 3.69bn . The total cost of diabetes from a societal perspective was calculated at Euro 5.71bn for the year 1999.


CONCLUSIONS
In accordance with the results of recent studies using routinely collected health insurance data, our study suggests that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus has increased steadily in the past years. The prevalence in our population of 14.7 million insured was 6.45%. Total costs of diabetes mellitus amounted to Euro 5.71bn.
Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology of the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Stephanie.Stock@medizin.uni-koeln.de
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Stock
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Redaelli
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Wendland
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Civello
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Lauterbach
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents