title: Lifetime direct medical costs of treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lifetime direct medical cost of treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications in the U.S. is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study provides nationally representative estimates of lifetime direct medical costs of treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications in people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, by gender and by age at diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A type 2 diabetes simulation model was used to simulate the disease progression and direct medical costs among a cohort of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients. The study sample used for the simulation was based on data from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. The costs of treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications were derived from published literature. Annual medical costs were accumulated over the life span of type 2 diabetes to determine the lifetime medical costs. All costs were calculated from a healthcare system perspective, and expressed in 2012 dollars.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at ages 25-44 years, 45-54 years, 55-64 years, and ≥ 65 years, the lifetime direct medical costs of treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications were $124,700, $106,200, $84,000, and $54,700, respectively. In women, the costs were $130,800, $110,400, $85,500, and $56,600, respectively. The age-gender weighted average of the lifetime medical costs was $85,200, of which 53% was due to treating diabetic complications. The cost of managing macrovascular complications accounted for 57% of the total complication cost.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over the lifetime, type 2 diabetes imposes a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. Effective interventions that prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications might result in substantial long-term savings in healthcare costs.
authors: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. xzhuo@cdc.gov
authors: Xiaohui
authors: X
authors: Zhuo
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Zhang
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: Hoerger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States