Event rates, hospital utilization, and costs associated with major complications of diabetes

Diabetes imposes a substantial burden globally in terms of premature mortality, morbidity, and health care costs. Estimates of economic outcomes associated with diabetes are essential inputs to policy analyses aimed at prevention and treatment of diabetes. Our objective was to estimate and compare event rates, hospital utilization, and costs associated with major diabetes-related complications in high-, middle-, and low-income countries.

Conclusions: Major complications of diabetes significantly increase hospital use and costs across various settings and are likely to impose a high economic burden on health care systems.