title: Economic Burden of Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus from Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypoglycemia is a very serious complication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and affects the economic burden of treatment. This study aims to create models of the cost of treating hypoglycemia in patients with T2DM based upon physician estimates of medical resource usage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a literature review and personal advice from endocrinologists and emergency physicians, we developed several models for managing patients with hypoglycemia. The final model was approved by the consulting experts. We also developed 3 unique surveys to allow endocrinologists, emergency room (ER) physicians, and primary care physicians to evaluate the resource usage of patients with hypoglycemia. Medical costs were calculated by multiplying the estimated medical resource usage by the corresponding health insurance medical care costs reported in 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 40 endocrinologists, 20 ER physicians, and 30 primary care physicians completed the survey. We identified 12 types of standard medical models for secondary or tertiary hospitals and 4 for primary care clinics based on the use of ER, general ward, or intensive care unit (ICU) and patients' status of consciousness and self-respiration. Estimated medical costs per person per hypoglycemic event ranged from $17.28 to $1,857.09 for secondary and tertiary hospitals. These costs were higher for patients who were unconscious and for those requiring ICU admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypoglycemia has a substantial impact on the medical costs and its prevention will result in economic benefits for T2DM patients and society.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Graduate School, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gyuri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Market Access, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Pharmaceutical Policy & Outcomes Research, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Hye
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Policy & Outcomes Research, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eui-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chong Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Kyung
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Seok
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Jung
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D056910:Republic of Korea; D063728:Secondary Care Centers; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000191:economics