Naslov
MODE OF TREATMENT AND DIRECT COSTS OF DIABETES HEALTH CARE

Autori
Turk-Strajtenberger, V ; Metelko, Ž ; Bozikov, V ; Bozikov, J

Izvornik
Diabetologia Croatica (0351-0042) 26 (1997), 2; 99-106

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, stručni

Ključne riječi
treatment; direct costs; diabetes mellitus; consulting unit

Sažetak
In this prospective study, conducted at the Diabetes Consulting Unit in Slatina, 200 out of 738 diabetes mellitus patients were included by the random sample method, 199 of whom completed the study. The mode of treatment for diabetes mellitus and its complications, and direct costs of diabetes health care were determined. Basic principles of treatment were used in 100% of study patients. Diet alone was used in 17.10%, oral hypoglycemic agents in 66.30%, insulin in 9.00%, and combination of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents in 7.50% of diabetic patients. Neuropathy was present in 46.20%, retinopathy in 26.60%, nephropathy in 12.10%, and diabetic foot in 30.20% of patients. Direct costs of diabetes health care for patients free of complications amounted to 7.89 USD per month. The highest costs were recorded in insulin-dependent patients, where the mean health care costs per month amounted to 37.69 USD. In patients with diabetic complications, the mean costs of treatment per month were 8.42 USD in patients with retinopathy, 12.74 USD in patients with neuropathy, 13.65 USD in patients with diabetic foot, and 11.86 USD in patients with other complications. In patients with nephropathy, the costs of treatment included the cost of therapy for the underlying disease only (7.89 USD), as none of the study patients required dialysis. Diabetes consulting units have a prominent role in ensuring health care availability, and providing patient education, horizontal connections among primary health care physicians and vertical connections with specialized health care levels, in order to achieve better treatment rationalization.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

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