Impact of self-measurement of blood glucose on complications of type 2 diabetes: economic analysis from a Czech perspective

Abstract

Objective:

A growing body of evidence indicates that self-measurement of blood glucose (SMBG) also has beneficial effects in people with type 2 diabetes, irrespective of the type of therapy. The objective of this analysis was to determine the economic impact of SMBG by comparing the cost share of self-monitoring and the direct costs of diabetes-related complications in users and non-users.

Research design and methods:

A matched-pair analysis based on the cohorts of a large retrospective study of patients with type 2 diabetes (ROSSO) was conducted. The average annual direct costs of diabetes monitoring, treatment-related services, complications and follow-up costs of the disease for SMBG users versus non-users were calculated from the perspective of the Czech statutory health insurance system. Univariate sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the main cost drivers. Limitations of this study are: (1) differences in medical facilities/practice between Germany and the Czech Republic, (2) causal relationship between SMBG and health outcomes is missing, (3) ROSSO underestimated the number of test strips used, (4) Czech cost data are scarce.

Results:

In patients treated with oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) only, total annual costs in Czech koruna (CZK) were CZK 16 476 for SMBG users and CZK 19 440 for non-users. In patients treated with OAD + insulin, total annual costs were CZK 32 590 and CZK 48 600, respectively. The main cost drivers were stroke and myocardial infarction in patients treated with OAD only, and stroke, dialysis and myocardial infarction in patients treated with OAD + insulin.

Conclusion:

Cost analysis indicated that SMBG provides a rapid return on initial investment. By increasing the number of patients using SMBG, the statutory health insurance system in the Czech Republic may save several million CZK annually.

Key words::

• Diabetes complications
• Diabetes mellitus
• Healthcare costs
• Matched-pair analysis
• Self-measurement of blood glucose

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This manuscript was sponsored by an unrestricted grant from Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany. The sponsor had no form of contribution or input to the contents of the article or its drafting.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

K.N. and C.W. developed the concept, drafted and finalised the manuscript. D.B. provided support in cost data retrieval, reviewed the cost data and critically reviewed the final manuscript. S.K. provided medical writing services. The authors take full responsibility for the contents.

Some peer reviewers receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. The peer reviewers of this paper have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgement

The authors have disclosed that they had no outside editorial assistance in preparing this manuscript.