Use of hospital care among Dutch diabetes patients

Abstract

Aim: To provide insight into healthcare resource utilization and hospital expenditure of patients treated for diabetes in Dutch hospitals. Materials and methods:We conducted an observational cohort study of 193 840 patients aged ≥18 years and treated for diabetes mellitus in 65 Dutch hospitals in 2019 to 2020, using real-world reimbursement data. Consultations, hospitalizations, technology use, total hospital and diabetes care costs (encompassing all care for diabetes itself) were assessed during 1-year follow-up. In addition, expenditure was compared with that in the general Dutch population.Results: Total hospital costs for all patients with diabetes were €1 352 690 257 (1.35 billion) per year, and 15.9% (€214 963 703) was associated with treatment of diabetes.Mean yearly costs per patient were €6978, with diabetes care costs of €1109. Mean hospital costs of patients exceeded that of the Dutch population three-to sixfold. Total hospital costs increased with age, whereas diabetes expenditure decreased with age (18-40 years, €1575; >70 years, €932). Of all patients with diabetes, 51.3% (n = 99 457) received care related to cardiovascular complications. Micro-and macrovascular complications, or a combination, increased hospital costs (1.4-5.3 times higher). Conclusions:The hospital resource use of Dutch diabetes patients is high, with a large burden of cardiovascular complications. Resource use is rooted mainly in hospital care of diabetes-related complications, not in the treatment of diabetes. Early treatment and prevention of complications remain imperative to taper future healthcare expenditure on patients with diabetes.

Socio‐economic disparities in hospital care among Dutch patients with diabetes mellitus

“…For this study, a dataset with routinely collected diabetes‐related data from affiliated hospitals was obtained from a benchmark database serviced by LOGEX. The data source has been described in more detail before 20 . Data were deidentified before use and, therefore, not traceable to individual patients.…”

“…The data source has been described in more detail before. 20 Data were deidentified before use and, therefore, not traceable to individual patients. Under Dutch law and regulations, the use of non-identifiable data is allowed for research purposes without ethical approval or informed consent.…”

Health-Care Utilization and Outcomes in Young Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

“…Young adults with DM may have challenges to optimal DM care and regular follow-up, which puts them at risk for acute-care visits to EDs or urgent care facilities, as well as hospitalizations (see Table 1 ). Hospital costs and resource use for hospitalized patients with DM is high [ 20 ]. Hospitalizations for DKA, in particular, seem to be increasing in incidence in the United States and driving up health-care costs, with aggregate national charges for DKA increasing from $2.2 billion to $5.1 billion from 2003 to 2014 (after adjustment for inflation) [ 21 ].…”