Healthcare costs of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Basque Country (Spain)

Objective

The aim of the study was to estimate the direct costs of healthcare provided to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Basque Country and to compare them with those of the population with chronic diseases.

Material and methods

A retrospective, cross-sectional, population-based study. Direct healthcare costs for patients aged over 35 years diagnosed with T2DM in the Basque Country (n = 126,894) were calculated, stratified by age, sex and deprivation index, and compared to the costs for the population diagnosed with a chronic disease other than T2DM (n = 1,347,043).

Results

The annual average healthcare cost of a person with T2DM was €3432. Cost gradually increased with age to €4313 in patients aged 80–84 years. Cost in males were €161 higher as compared to costs in females (P < 0.001). In the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, cost per patient was €468 (14.9%) greater than in the most privileged areas (P < 0.001). Moreover, cost was 68.5% higher (P < 0.001) for patients with T2DM than for patients with other chronic diseases. Total annual direct costs amounted to €435.5 million, or 12.78% of total public health expenditure in the region.

Conclusions

Direct mean healthcare costs in the Basque Country for patients with T2DM were higher in males, in the most underprivileged areas, in patients with comorbidities, and in older age groups, and represented €3432 per person per year.