Exploring Different Strategies of Assessing the Economic Impact of Multiple Diabetes-Associated Complications and Their Interactions: A Large Claims-Based Study in Germany

Burden of established cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes and matched controls: Hospital-based care, days absent from work, costs and mortality

AIMS

To assess hospital-based care, work absence, associated costs, and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without established cardiovascular disease (eCVD) compared to matched controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a population-based cohort study, we analysed individual-level data from national health, social insurance and socio-economic registers for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before age 70 years and controls (5:1) in Sweden. Regression analysis was used to attribute costs and days absent due to eCVD. Mortality was analysed using Cox proportional hazard regression, stratified by birth year and adjusted for sex and education.

RESULTS

Thirty percent (n = 136 135 of 454 983) of people with type 2 diabetes had ≥1 person-year with eCVD (women 24%; men 34%). The mean annual costs of hospital-based care for diabetes complications were EUR 2629 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2601-2657) of which EUR 2337 (95% CI 2309-2365) were attributed to eCVD (89%). The most costly person-years (10th percentile) were observed in a broad subgroup, 42% of people with type 2 diabetes and eCVD. People with type 2 diabetes had on average 146 days absent (95% CI 145-147) per year, of which 68 days (47%; 95% CI 67-70) were attributed to eCVD. The mortality hazard ratio for type 2 diabetes with eCVD was 4.63 (95%CI 4.58-4.68) and without eCVD was 1.86 (95% CI 1.84-1.88) compared to controls without eCVD.

CONCLUSION

The sizable burden of eCVD on both the individual with type 2 diabetes and society calls for efficient management in order to reduce the risks for those living with eCVD and to postpone its onset.

A pharmacoeconomic evaluation of the pharmacotherapeutic options for painful diabetic neuropathy

INTRODUCTION

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a high incidence and severe complication of diabetes mellitus, significantly compromising patients' quality of life and causing tremendous economic burden. Considering drug costs becomes part of treatment decisions, with the growing choice of monotherapy or combination treatment strategies for PDN treatment.

AREAS COVERED

This systematic review aims to identify the cost-effectiveness of pharmacotherapies in PDN, summarize key findings, and assess the quality of studies to inform healthcare resource allocation decisions and future research. Economic evaluations were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and health technology assessment (HTA) databases, as well as screening reference lists of previously identified studies. Relevant data was extracted, and the CHEERS checklist was used to assess the quality of the studies.

EXPERT OPINION

Collectively, the findings indicate that more pharmacoeconomics research is urgently needed to directly compare high-quality research for PDN combination medication/sequential treatment, and which is performed from a societal perspective. Simultaneously, to strengthen the reliability of the analysis, metrics such as adherence, incidence of adverse drug reactions, and pain levels utility value should be examined to verify the robustness of the basic results.

Cost-Effectiveness of the FreeStyle Libre® System Versus Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes on Insulin Treatment in Sweden

INTRODUCTION

Frequent glucose monitoring is essential to obtain glucose control. This is done by periodic self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) using finger-prick testing, or by using continuous glucose monitoring devices, wherein a sensor records interstitial glucose data automatically. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of using the FreeStyle Libre Flash Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (FSL) compared to SMBG in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with insulin from a Swedish societal perspective.

METHODS

Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using the IQVIA Core Diabetes model v9.5, with demographic and clinical inputs from a real-world study using Swedish National Diabetes Register data. Two cohorts of individuals with T2D were considered based on baseline HbA1C (HbA1c: 8-9% [64-75 mmol/mol]; HbA1c: 9-12% [75-108 mmol/mol]). HbA1c reductions with FSL were - 0.41% (- 4 mmol/mol; SD: 0.94%-10 mmol/mol) and - 1.30% (- 14 mmol/mol; SD: 1.40%-15 mmol/mol) for the two cohorts, respectively. Utilities, treatment costs and diabetes-related complication costs were obtained from published sources. Analyses were conducted over a lifetime horizon, applying annual discounting of 3% on costs and effects. Scenario analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Individuals with T2D who had a baseline HbA1c of 8-9% (64-75 mmol/mol) and 9-12% (75-108 mmol/mol) and used FSL gained 0.50 and 0.57 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), respectively, at an incremental cost of SEK109,957 and SEK82,170 compared to SMBG, generating an incremental cost-utility ratio of SEK219,127 and SEK144,412 per QALY gained. Assuming a willingness-to-pay threshold of SEK300,000 per QALY gained, FSL use was considered cost-effective compared to SMBG for the majority of the individuals in both the lower and higher HbA1c cohorts. The key driver identified was the additional quality-of-life benefit that applied to FSL use.

CONCLUSION

The FreeStyle Libre Flash Continuous Glucose Monitoring System is a cost-effective glucose monitoring alternative to SMBG for individuals with T2D in Sweden who are treated with insulin but are not reaching their glycaemic goals.

Costs of diabetes complications: hospital-based care and absence from work for 392,200 people with type 2 diabetes and matched control participants in Sweden

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The risk of complications and medical consequences of type 2 diabetes are well known. Hospital costs have been identified as a key driver of total costs in studies of the economic burden of type 2 diabetes. Less evidence has been generated on the impact of individual diabetic complications on the overall societal burden. The objective of this study was to analyse costs of hospital-based healthcare (inpatient and outpatient care) and work absence related to individual macrovascular and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes in Sweden in 2016.

METHODS

Data for 2016 were retrieved from a Swedish national retrospective observational database cross-linking individual-level data for 1997-2016. The database contained information from population-based health, social insurance and socioeconomic registers for 392,200 people with type 2 diabetes and matched control participants (5:1). Presence of type 2 diabetes and of diabetes complications were derived using all years, 1997-2016. Costs of hospital-based care and of absence from work due to diabetes complications were estimated for the year 2016. Regression analysis was used for comparison with control participants to attribute absence from work to individual complications, and to account for joint presence of complications.

RESULTS

Use of hospital care for complications was higher in type 2 diabetes compared with control participants in 2016: 26% vs 12% had ≥1 hospital contact; there were 86,104 vs 24,608 outpatient visits per 100,000 people; and there were 9894 vs 2546 inpatient admissions per 100,000 people (all p < 0.001). The corresponding total costs of hospital-based care for complications were €919 vs €232 per person (p < 0.001), and 74.7% of costs were then directly attributed to diabetes (€687 per person). Regression analyses distributed the costs of days absent from work across diabetes complications per se, basic type 2 diabetes effect and unattributed causes. Diabetes complications amounted to €1317 per person in 2016, accounting for possible complex interactions (25% of total costs of days absent). Key drivers of costs were the macrovascular complications angina pectoris, heart failure and stroke; and the microvascular complications eye diseases, including retinopathy, kidney disease and neuropathy. Early mortality in working ages cost an additional €579 per person and medications used in risk-factor treatment amounted to €418 per person.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The economic burden of complications in type 2 diabetes is substantial. Costs of absence from work in this study were found to be greater than of hospital-based care, highlighting the need for considering treatment consequences in a societal perspective in research and policy. Graphical abstract.

Assessment of excess medical costs for persons with type 2 diabetes according to age groups: an analysis of German health insurance claims data

AIM

This cross-sectional study used a large nationwide claims data set to assess the excess medical costs of people with type 2 diabetes according to age group in 2015.

METHODS

Data from 291 709 people with diabetes and 291 709 age- and sex-matched controls were analysed. Total costs (expressed as 2015 euros) of outpatient and inpatient services, medication, rehabilitation, and the provision of aids and appliances were examined. Overall and age-stratified excess costs of people with diabetes were estimated using gamma regression with a log-link.

RESULTS

Overall, the estimated total direct costs of a person with type 2 diabetes are approximately double those of a person without diabetes: €4727 vs. €2196, respectively. Absolute excess costs were approximately the same in all age groups (around €2500), however, relative excess costs of persons with diabetes were much higher in younger (~ 334% for < 50 years) than in older age groups (~ 156% for ≥ 80 years). Regional costs, both absolute and excess, partly differed from the national level.

CONCLUSIONS

This study complements and updates previous studies on the excess medical costs of people with diabetes in Germany. The results indicate the importance of preventing the development of type 2 diabetes, especially in younger age groups. Longitudinal and regional studies examining changes in prevalence and the development of excess costs in groups with different types of diabetes, and according to age, would be of interest to validate our findings and better understand the avoidable burden of having diabetes.

Days absent from work as a result of complications associated with type 2 diabetes: Evidence from 20 years of linked national registry data in Sweden

AIMS

To analyse days absent from work related to individual microvascular, macrovascular and other complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and to identify key drivers of absence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

National health and socio-economic individual-level data were analysed for the years 1997 to 2016 for people with T2D, and age-, sex- and residential region-matched controls (5:1) using linkage to Swedish national administrative registers, based on personal identity numbers. Regression analyses accounting for individual-level clustering and education were estimated to obtain days absent by individual complications. Alternative analyses, for example, workforce indicator and age subgroups, were explored for robustness and comparison purposes.

RESULTS

A total of 413 000 people with T2D aged <66 years, comprising 4.9 million person-years, was included. The crude proportion with any absence was higher among those with T2D compared to controls (47% vs. 26%) in the index year, and the median (IQR) number of days was higher (223 [77;359] vs. 196 [59;352]) if any absence. Regression analyses showed that complications per se were a key driver of days absent: stroke (+102 days); end-stage renal disease (+70 days); severe vision loss (+56 days); and angina pectoris, heart failure, and osteoarthritis (+53 days each). The alternative analyses showed similar levels of days absent and age subgroups differed in expected directions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence of the persisting impact on productivity from complications that supports continued efforts to reduce risk factors in T2D. Future studies on burden of disease and economic evaluations of new therapies and disease management may use this new set of complication-specific estimates to improve understanding of the value of reducing complications.