title: Regional differences in diabetic patients' pharmacotherapy in Bulgaria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The regional analyses play an important role in understanding a state of diabetes mellitus management and to support informed policy options. They need to be explored in more details in order to ensure an equal patients' access to health care services of the same value and quality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to analyze regional differences in a cost of diabetes therapy for insulin users in Bulgaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a combined prospective and retrospective observational study with duration of 6 months. Diabetic patients on insulin therapy were recruited by 35 endocrinologists. Information about the health care resources used was collected within 3-prospective and 3 retrospective months in 2010 and 2011. The regional cost of illness analysis was performed by calculating the average cost attributable to each individual patient despite the fact that some might not use a particular health care resource. Subgroup analysis was performed for hospitalized patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A detailed analysis revealed cost differences in the regions, especially with more vulnerable population like Burgas and Pleven regions. Another reason for the cost differences is the type of insulin or type of therapy. Our study confirms the fact that the hospitalizations are the major cost driver. Rising diabetes prevalence and associated costs, including hospitalizations and management of diabetes complications, are a growing concern. The last possible reason for regional differences is the patients' characteristics and therapy differences. We add evidence demonstrating that the patients on insulin and OAD consume more resources including hospitalizations and suffer from more complications of diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reasons for regional differences might have different origin as there are various population characteristics, type of therapy, socio economic status and others.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria. guenka.petrova@gmail.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valov
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doneva
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Borisova
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tankova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czech
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manova
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savova
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peikova
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002031:Bulgaria; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin