[What are the pharmacological costs of a well-controlled diabetic?].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cost of glucose lowering treatment (GLT) in our diabetic patients (DP).


METHODS
Cross-sectional descriptive study.


METHODS
Urban primary health care centre.


METHODS
Random sample of 294 DP with HPT.


METHODS
Principal variable: annual cost of GLT. Secondary Variables: age, sex, type of diabetes (DM), prescribing doctor, level of control, number of glucose lowering drugs, cardiovascular risk factors and complications.


RESULTS
A total of 294 diabetic patients were included, with a mean age 71.7+/-13.3 years; 52.7% women; 93.2% DM2; Annual cost of GLT: 82.979 €,(281.9 €/patient/year). General practitioner (GP) originated 32.3% of the treatments (17.7% of the costs). Annual average expenditure was significantly higher in DM1 patients, patients on treatment with triple therapy and patients controlled by an endocrinologist in a reference hospital. In the multiple linear regression the variables that explained the variation in the cost were the type of Diabetes mellitus (P<0.0001), prescription by hospital endocrinologist (p=0,002), number of glucose lowering drugs(P<0.0001), diabetic retinopathy(P: 0.019) and chronic renal failure (P: 0.027). These variables explained 44.5% of the annual cost variation of the GLT (R(2):0.445).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a wide variation in the costs arising from GLT of our diabetic patients. We conclude, it is essential to improve coordination between levels of care, encourage the design and use of clinical guidelines to achieve more efficient control of our patients.
Férriz Villanueva
Gemma
G
ABS Sagrada Família, CAP Sagrada Família, Consorci Sanitari Integral, Barcelona, Spain. gemma.ferriz@sanitatintegral.org
Rojas Blanc
Marta
M
Riera Nadal
Natàlia
N
Riera Nadal
Clara
C
Fernández Martínez
Francisco Javier
FJ
Aguado Jodar
Alba
A
D000368:Aged; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents