Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: An update of health economics analysis of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Turkey was performed. The primary objective was to collect and calculate the healthcare resources utilized for the management of DM.

Methods: Thirty-one out of 40 randomly chosen centers completed the study. Medical files were reviewed for the data recorded for at least two years prior to the study. Collected data included laboratory tests, treatments, inpatient/outpatient follow-up visits, consultations and patient education. Data on work loss collected via validated “Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health V2.0 (WPAI:GH)”.

Results: A total of 942 patients’ data were included in the analysis. Mean age was 57.7±11.4 years; 58% were female, median DM duration was 8 years. Metabolic (28%), ocular (21%), cardiovascular complications (12%), neurologic (11%) and renal (4%) were the first five causes for seeking care. A total of 657 (69.7%) patients answered the WPAI:GH questionnaire. The percentage of patients, who had a job, at the time of the study conducted, was 14%. The proportion of the working patients who stated that health problems had caused 50% or more productivity loss while working in last 7 days was 21%. This figure for regular daily activities other than the ones at the job was 30% of all patients. Scores of work impairment and activity impairment were 23% and 31% over 100%. Nearly 1/5 of the patients were getting help (professional, volunteered or from a family member) for daily health care, due to health problems. Mean percentages for absenteeism and presenteeism were 24% and 15%, respectively. General work productivity loss (absenteeism plus presenteeism) was found as 39%.

Conclusion: DM is a disease that affects work and daily productivity of both the patients and their companions, negatively. Productivity loss of patients’ and their companions can be prevented with better management of DM.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.