Direct healthcare costs of patients with type 2 diabetes using long-acting insulin analogues or NPH insulin in a basal insulin-only regimen.
OBJECTIVE
To compare direct healthcare costs incurred by patients with type 2 diabetes in Denmark prescribed long-acting insulin analogues (LAIA) or intermediate-acting human insulin (NPH) in a basal-only regimen.


METHODS
Demographic and socio-economic patient characteristics, hospital utilisation data, primary care visits, specialist physician visits and prescription data were extracted from registers covering the Danish population. Patients receiving basal insulin were identified during a 1-year inclusion period (2005) and allocated to a LAIA (n=303) or NPH group (n=8523). LAIA patients were then matched with NPH patients using propensity scores based on observable covariates. Annual direct healthcare costs were determined during a <2-year analysis period (2005-2006).


RESULTS
Direct healthcare costs, including prescription costs, were equivalent between groups. However, while most cost items were similar between groups, ambulatory visit costs were significantly lower in LAIA-treated patients (p=0.03), whereas insulin pharmacy costs were significantly lower in NPH-treated patients (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in direct healthcare costs between patients using LAIAs or NPH insulin.
Gundgaard
Jens
J
COWI A/S, Parallelvej 2, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. jegd@cowi.com
Christensen
Torsten E
TE
Thomsen
Trine Lyager
TL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003718:Denmark; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069057:Insulin Detemir; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D007336:Insulin, Isophane / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D057216:Propensity Score; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics; D012042:Registries; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D000069057:Insulin Detemir; D007336:Insulin, Isophane; D008687:Metformin