The financial costs of healthcare treatment for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in the UK with particular reference to differing severity of peripheral neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize symptom severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in people with diabetes and to characterize its association with healthcare resource use.


METHODS
The study was undertaken in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, UK. A postal survey was posted to subjects identified as having diabetes. Demography, quality of life (EQ-5D and SF-36) and symptoms of neuropathy (NTSS-6 and QOL-DN) data were collected. These data were linked to routine healthcare data coded into healthcare resource groups (HRGs) and subsequently costed according to UK National reference costs.


RESULTS
Survey responses were received from 1298 patients, a 32% response rate. For patients with a clinically confirmed diagnosis of DPN, the mean NTSS-6-SA score was 6.16 vs. 3.19 (P < 0.001). Duration of diabetes did not change across groups defined by severity of neuropathy symptoms, but mean HbA(1c) and body mass index values did increase with symptom severity (range 7.6-8.1%, P = 0.023; and 28.0-30.9 kg/m(2), P < 0.001, respectively). General linear modelling showed that the NTSS-6-SA score was a significant predictor of both annual health resource costs and yearly prescribed drug costs. On average, each 1-point increase in NTSS-6-SA score predicted a 6% increase in primary and secondary care costs and a 3% increase in log transformed drug costs.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that severity of DPN symptoms was associated with increased healthcare resource use, thus costs.
Currie
C J
CJ
Pharma Researh Centre, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK. currie@cardiff.ac.uk
Poole
C D
CD
Woehl
A
A
Morgan
C Ll
CL
Cawley
S
S
Rousculp
M D
MD
Covington
M T
MT
Peters
J R
JR
D017281:Cost of Illness; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000191:economics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000191:economics*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000191:economics*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index