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DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1269847
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Direct Costs of Diabetes Mellitus in Germany – CoDiM 2000–2007
Publication History
received 27.09.2010
first decision 27.09.2010
accepted 17.11.2010
Publication Date:
24 January 2011 (online)

Abstract
Introduction: The prevalence of treated diabetes in Germany and direct health care costs of individuals with diabetes were analysed for the 8-year period from 2000 to 2007, based on administrative data. Special interest was given to the incremental costs attributed to diabetes.
Material and methods: An 18.75% sample of all members of a large local German statutory health insurance provider, “AOK – Die Gesundheitskasse” in the federal state of Hesse was analysed with regard to cases of treated diabetes. To assess the incremental diabetes-related direct costs, the cost data of individuals with diabetes was compared to that of an age- and sex-matched group of persons without diabetes. Prevalence and costs were standardized according to the gender and age distribution of the German population.
Results: Between 2000 and 2007, the administrative prevalence of treated diabetes rose continuously in Germany, from 6.5 to 8.9% (+36.8%). The number of patients treated with ‘insulin’ or ‘insulin & oral antidiabetic agents’ increased by +54.7 and +61.7%, respectively. Direct costs per patient with diabetes, calculated using the unit costs reimbursed by statutory health and nursing care insurances, rose from € 5 197 to € 5 726 (+10.2%). Incremental per-capita costs were € 2 400 in 2000 and € 2 605 in 2007 (+8.5%). However, the total direct cost burden of diabetes in Germany grew from € 27.8 billion to € 42.0 billion (+51.1%). The incremental diabetes-related cost burden increased from € 12.9 billion to € 19.1 billion (+48.6%).
Conclusions: There was a continuous increase in the prevalence of diabetes in Germany during the 8-year period. Although there was only a modest increase in annual diabetes-related per-capita costs, total healthcare expenditure rose substantially due to the growing number of patients being treated for diabetes.
Key words
diabetes mellitus - diabetes-related costs - healthcare costs - claims data - antidiabetic agents
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Correspondence
I. Köster
PMV forschungsgruppe an
der Klinik und Poliklinik für
Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
des Kindes- und Jugendalters,
Klinikum Köln
Herderstr. 52– 54
50931 Köln
Germany
Phone: +49/221/478 6545
Fax: +49/221/478 6766
Email: ingrid.koester@uk-koeln.de