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The obesity‐driven rising costs of type 2 diabetes in Australia: projections from the Fremantle Diabetes Study
Author(s) -
Davis W. A.,
Knuiman M. W.,
Hendrie D.,
Davis T. M. E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2006.01014.x
Subject(s) - medicine , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , obesity , health care , population , environmental health , type 1 diabetes , demography , indirect costs , gerontology , endocrinology , economic growth , business , accounting , sociology , economics
Abstract Background: The cost of diabetes is high for both the individual and society. Future health‐care planning requires patient‐level diabetes‐attributable health‐care cost data that have not previously been available for Australia. Aim: To determine Australian national direct diabetes‐attributable health‐care costs for known type 2 diabetes in 2000 and project these to 2051. Methods: A total of 1294 patients with type 2 diabetes was recruited to the Fremantle Diabetes Study between 1993 and 1996. A bottom‐up, prevalence‐based approach using diabetes‐attributable costs provided average annual per patient health‐care costs (in year 2000 A$). Costs were extrapolated to 2051 using Australian type 2 diabetes prevalence figures and Australian Bureau of Statistics population projections, assuming that prevalence rates (i) remain at current levels and (ii) rise steadily. Results: Total annual direct diabetes‐attributable health‐care costs in 2000 in Australia for people ≥25 years with known type 2 diabetes were estimated at A$636 million. As a result of ageing, the number of people with type 2 diabetes will double between 2000 and 2051 with a 2.5‐fold increase in diabetes‐attributable health‐care costs. If obesity and inactivity prevalence rates continue to rise, prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes will further increase. The number of people with type 2 diabetes in 2051 may be 3.5 times higher than in 2000 with a 3.7‐fold cost increase. Conclusions: The financial burden of treating type 2 diabetes could quadruple by 2051 unless more is done to prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications. A smaller proportion of the population will have the capacity to fund these rising health‐care costs.