The impact of diabetes-related complications on healthcare costs: new results from the UKPDS (UKPDS 84)

AimsTo estimate the immediate and long-term inpatient and non-inpatient costs for Type 2 diabetes-related complications. MethodsThe costs of all consultations, visits, admissions and procedures associated with diabetes-related complications during UK Prospective Diabetes Study post-trial monitoring in the period 1997-2007 were estimated using hospitalization records for 2791 patients in England and resource use questionnaires that were administered to 3589 patients across the UK. ResultsThe estimated (95% CI) inpatient care costs (in 2012 pounds sterling) in the event year for the example of a 60-year-old man were: non-fatal ischaemic heart disease 9767 (7038- pound 12 pound 696); amputation 9546 pound (6416- pound 13 pound 463); non-fatal stroke 6805 pound (3856- pound 10 pound 278); non-fatal myocardial infarction 6379 pound (4290- pound 8339); pound fatal stroke 3954 pound (2012- pound 6428); pound fatal ischaemic heart disease 3766 pound (746- pound 5512); pound heart failure 3191 pound (1678-4903); pound fatal myocardial infarction 1521 pound (647- pound 2670); pound and blindness in one eye 1355 pound (415- pound 2655) pound. In subsequent years, estimated (95% CI) costs ranged from 1792 pound (1060- pound 2943) pound for amputations to 453 pound (315- pound 691) pound for blindness in one eye. Costs of non-inpatient healthcare in the event year were: amputation 2699 pound (1409- pound 4126); pound blindness in one eye 1790 pound (878- pound 3056); pound non-fatal stroke 1019 pound (770- pound 1499); pound nonfatal myocardial infarction 1963 pound (794- pound 1157); pound heart failure 979 pound (708- pound 1344); pound non-fatal ischaemic heart disease 864 pound (718- pound 1014); pound and cataract extraction 700 pound (619- pound 780) pound. In each subsequent year, non-inpatient costs ranged from 1611 pound (1193- pound 2116) pound for amputations to 654 pound (572- pound 799) pound for ischaemic heart disease. ConclusionsDiabetic complications are associated with substantial immediate and long-term healthcare costs. Our comprehensive new estimates of these costs, derived from detailed recent UK Prospective Diabetes Study post-trial data, should aid researchers and health policy analyses.