Cost of hospitalization of diabetic patients admitted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
In Ethiopia the problems passed by diabetes is increasing for the last two to three decades. This indicates that diabetes is becoming a major economic factor in drug use and bed occupancy. So far there has been no study conducted to evaluate the cost of care among Ethiopian diabetic patients. This study aimed at assessing the cost of hospitalization of diabetic patients.


METHODS
A case control study was conducted on consecutive 146 diabetic patients and 142 non diabetic controls admitted to the medical wards of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. Every first non-diabetic patient who was admitted to the same ward on the same day or in the subsequent days was taken as a control group.


RESULTS
The average total cost of hospitalization of cases was significantly higher than the controls with mean cost of 1109.7 +/- 1026.4 for cases and 872.9 +/- 828.3 Birr for controls respectively, (p < 0.03). A large proportion (57%) of the total cost was utilized for treatment of acute and chronic complications of diabetes. The average treatment and laboratory cost were significantly higher among cases compared to controls (p = 0.013 and p = < 0.001 respectively). However, when adjusted by age, sex, address and history of hypertension and renal diseases, the average cost of laboratory investigation remained significantly higher for cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study demonstrated that the direct cost of hospitalization of diabetic patient is significantly higher than non diabetics. The study showed that substantial proportion of the total cost of admission is utilized for treating acute and long term complications. This study warrants further research, attention of the health policy makers and health providers for future planning of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.
Feleke
Yeweyenhareg
Y
Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box 23119, Code 1000. Yeweynharegf@yahoo.com
Enquselassie
Fikre
F
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000191:economics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000191:economics*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male