Cost of type 2 diabetes in Germany over 8 years (the ROSSO study No. 2)

Abstract

In order to analyse the direct costs to the German statutory health insurance system of type 2 diabetes treatment, the provision of diagnostic and treatment services was documented over 8 years from 1995-2003 in 3,268 patients from 192 randomly selected practices. Average annual costs for the treatment of diabetes and its complications totalled €3,180 per patient. Extrapolated to the estimates of type 2 diabetes prevalence in Germany, this represents 4.6-8.2% of federal health expenditure. Over the study period, costs in this population increased in a near linear fashion from €1,570 in year 1 to €4,198 in year 8, with follow-up for diabetic complications increasingly accounting for the largest share. In times of limited resources, optimal therapy to prevent diabetes, or at least its complications, is a matter of the highest priority both for health insurance providers and public health services. © 2006 Informa UK Ltd - JME 123.