Complications may significantly intensify healthcare use of patients with type 2 diabetes

Background We examined the prevalence, incidence and healthcare costs of type 2 diabetes complications in 2012 and 2017. Assessments were conducted separately within a subgroup of persons with type 2 diabetes with a high risk of cardiovascular events and by hospital district.

Methods Assessments were based on the FinDM database, which includes all persons with type 2 diabetes in Finland between 1964 and 2017 and their public health service use. Costs were estimated using reported national unit costs.

Results The prevalence of type 2 diabetes complications increased by 8 percentage points between 2012 and 2017. However, the incidence decreased by 4 percentage points. Mean costs were considerably higher among patients with complications compared to patients without. Cardiovascular and foot-related complications were associated with the highest total and highest mean costs, respectively. Mean costs were 1.4-fold in the hospital district with the highest mean costs compared to the hospital district with the lowest mean costs.

Conclusions By investing in prevention and with continuous striving for cost-effectiveness in current care practices for type 2 diabetes complications, a substantial amount of resources could be released for alternative uses.

Olli Kurkela, Jani Raitanen, Mikko Tuovinen, Pirjo Ilanne-Parikka, Leena Forma

Olli Kurkela

M.Sc. (Tech.), Ph.D. Researcher

Tampere University