Affiliation:
1. York Health Economics Consortium, Enterprise House, Innovation Way University of York York UK
2. Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust Bath UK
3. Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
4. West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Wakefield UK
5. Diabetes UK London UK
Abstract
AbstractAimsThe direct cost of diabetes to the UK health system was estimated at around £10 billion in 2012. This analysis updates that estimate using more recent and accurate data sources.MethodsA pragmatic review of relevant data sources for UK nations was conducted, including population‐level data sets and published literature, to generate estimates of costs separately for Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. A comprehensive cost framework, developed in collaboration with experts, was used to create a population‐based cost of illness model.The key driver of the analysis was prevalence of diabetes and its complications. Estimates were made of the excess costs of diagnosis, treatment and diabetes‐related complications compared with the general UK population. Estimates of the indirect costs of diabetes focused on productivity losses due to absenteeism and premature mortality.ResultsThe direct costs of diabetes in 2021/22 for the UK were estimated at £10.7 billion, of which just over 40% related to diagnosis and treatment, with the rest relating to the excess costs of complications. Indirect costs were estimated at £3.3 billion.ConclusionsDiabetes remains a considerable cost burden in the UK, and the majority of those costs are still spent on potentially preventable complications. Although rates of some complications are reducing, prevalence continues to increase and effective approaches to primary and secondary prevention continue to be needed. Improvements in data capture, data quality and reporting, and further research on the human and financial implications of increasing incidence of Type 2 diabetes in younger people are recommended.
Reference22 articles.
1. Estimating the current and future costs of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in the UK, including direct health costs and indirect societal and productivity costs
2. Estimating the impact of better management of glycaemic control in adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes on the number of clinical complications and the associated financial benefit
3. NHS England.National Diabetes Audit 2021–22 Data Release.2021.https://digital.nhs.uk/data‐and‐information/publications/statistical/national‐diabetes‐audit/nda‐core‐21‐22/nda‐core‐21‐22‐data
4. NHS Scotland.Scottish Diabetes Survey 2022.2022.https://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/wp‐content/uploads/2023/10/Scottish‐Diabetes‐Survey‐2022.pdf#new_tab
5. Department of Health.Raw Disease Prevalence in Northern Ireland – 2022/23.https://www.health‐ni.gov.uk/news/raw‐disease‐prevalence‐northern‐ireland‐202223