title: Diabetes cost model of a hospital in Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to formulate a cost model from a provider perspective regarding the direct medical costs for diabetic patients who received care in a 30-bed public hospital in Thailand during the fiscal year of 2001.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a retrospective prevalence-based cost of illness study. Data were collected by reviewing the medical record of each patient for the whole year. The statistical analysis employed was the stepwise multiple regression method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study covered 186 diabetic patients. It was found that the average cost of caring for a diabetic patient per year was 6331 Thai baht (THB) at 2001 prices (approximately 40 THB = US 1 dollar). A major portion of this cost was spent for pharmacy services, which accounted for 45% of the whole cost, followed by outpatient services (24%), inpatient services (16%), and laboratory investigation (11%). Regarding the model for forecasting the cost, the type of diabetes and its accompanying complications, i.e., hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular accident, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, gangrene, and diabetic foot, were considered as significant predictor variables (adjusted R(2) = 0.48). The quantitative effects in monetary term of these significant predictors were also demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results could be beneficial in forecasting the economic burden of diabetes mellitus in Thailand. Furthermore, the results could be used as a financial tool for cost control and disease management at the community hospital level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. pyarp@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Arthorn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riewpaiboon
authors.forename: Penkae
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pornlertwadee
authors.forename: Kwanjai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pongsawat
mesh_terms: D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013785:Thailand