Economic evaluation of outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus assisted by a pharmaceutical care service.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the costs related to visits and drug prescription in outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus assisted by a pharmaceutical care service.


METHODS
A prospective and experimental study was carried out. Seventy one patients were divided into two groups: control and pharmaceutical care. Patients in the pharmaceutical care group were followed up monthly by a single clinical pharmacist.


RESULTS
The pharmaceutical care group had a statistically significant reduction in costs of metformin and emergency department visits, and increased costs with their family physicians. On the other hand, the control group had a statistically significant increase of 21.3% in the general costs of treatment and visits.


CONCLUSIONS
The pharmaceutical care group maintained the same costs related to drugs and visits, while the control group showed a significant increase in general costs.
Pharmaceutical Assistance and Clinical Pharmacy Research Center (CPAFF), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. paulanasa@yahoo.com.br
Anna Paula de Sá
AP
Borges
Camilo Molino
CM
Guidoni
Osvaldo de
Od
Freitas
Leonardo Régis Leira
LR
Pereira
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005905:Glyburide / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000191:economics*; D008687:Metformin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008687:Metformin; D005905:Glyburide