Cost of Illness of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Patients Attending University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract
Background: There is a scarcity of recent data regarding the cost of illness (COI) of type 2 diabetes in developing countries. In order to achieve policy efficiency, accurate knowledge of COI is critical for developing and prioritizing health-care policies and interventions, as well as allocating health-care resources in accordance with budget constraints.
Objective: To conduct cost of illness analysis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients attending University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Method: COI and drug utilization studies involving a one-year (January to December2021) retrospective review of 824 case notes of Type 2 DM patients of which 276 were selected as the sample size. The selection of the 276 cases was by systematic random sampling. Sampling interval =5. Cost of Illness was determined by prevalence rate method, using direct costs only.
Results: The annual cost of illness for the 276 Type 2 DM patients on ant diabetic drugs was N418,163 (10,646 USD) with drug, diagnostic / monitoring tests, transport, and personnel cost components of 104,627.13 USD (94.8%), 2,674.52 USD (2.42%),1,348.50USD (1.22%), 1,685.66USD (1.52%) respectively. The annual average cost of illness of type 2 DM was N 163, 303.37 (399.77 USD).Drugs was found to be the major driver of the cost of illness and 90.22% of the patients had a concurrent illness or comorbidity.
In conclusion: The annual average national cost of illness of Type 2 DM patients represents 475% of annual health expenditure per capita. The cost implication for management of type 2 DM patients is quite huge. The Annual National cost of illness for Type 2 DM in Nigeria, a developing economy may be about 2 billion USD annually.