Concomitant illnesses in patients with diabetes: Mortality, morbidity, benefits of newer treatments, and individual and societal costs

Abstract

We study changes in age-specific diabetes-related mortality and annual health care utilization. We find that half of the estimated 16% increase of diabetic mortality falls within employable age groups. We estimate that disease combination-specific increase in case fatality has resulted in premature diabetic mortality costing $3.2 billion annually. The estimated annual direct cost of treating high-risk diabetics reaches $36 billion, of which Medicare and Other Federal Programs compensate 54%. Respiratory conditions among diabetics comprise the same proportion of high-risk diabetics as do the disease combinations including coronary heart diseases. Treating of general diabetic conditions has become more efficient as indicated by the estimated declines in per unit health care costs.

Citation

Farquhar, I., Sorkin, A., Summers, K. and Weir, E. (2001), "Concomitant illnesses in patients with diabetes: Mortality, morbidity, benefits of newer treatments, and individual and societal costs", Farquhar, I., Summers, K. and Sorkin, A. (Ed.) Investing in Health: The Social and Economic Benefits of Health Care Innovation (Research in Human Capital and Development, Vol. 14), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 197-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0194-3960(01)14009-6