Jerusalem, Israel, 18 September 2000: Urgent action to achieve sustained glycaemic control and reduce the risk of complications is needed to contain the escalating cost of type 2 diabetes, according to new data released at the annual conference of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, with over 150 million people currently affected -- a figure that is expected to rise to 300 million by 2025.1 Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 90% of all cases of diabetes2 and the cost of treating the condition places a substantial strain on healthcare resources.
New data from CODE-2TM* (Cost of Diabetes in Europe -- Type 2 Study) show that the two primary factors driving the cost of care in type 2 diabetes are insulin usage, which is an indicator of disease progression, and microvascular and macrovascular complications, such as eye disease, kidney problems and myocardial infarction.3
Commenting on the latest results, Dr Alan Bakst, who worked on the CODE-2 project, said: "These data suggest that therapies that can reduce the complications associated with type 2 diabetes and delay disease progression will have a positive impact on healthcare costs. Sustained glycaemic control is also critical in helping people with type 2 diabetes to maintain a better quality of life."
Data from Dr Robertino Mera of SmithKline Beecham further highlight the cost factors involved, showing that obese patients with inadequate glycaemic control have 27% more drug therapy costs and 18% more overall costs than non-obese patients with good glycaemic control.4
"Therapies that can provide effective and sustained glycaemic control, alongside aggressive measures to reduce weight, will play an important role in type 2 diabetes management in the future," said Dr Mera.
Results from the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) may help to explain these findings. They indicate that patients with poor glycaemic control have a higher risk of developing costly complications than individuals who are adequately controlled.5 Obesity is also associated with significant comorbidities.
The CODE-2 Study, which was initiated in 1998, is the first pan-European effort to measure the cost of type 2 diabetes and identify the main components of cost using consistent methodology across all countries. Its design and implementation involved over 100 experts, who analysed more than 7000 patients from eight European countries -- Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
SmithKline Beecham -- one of the world’s leading healthcare companies -- discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets pharmaceuticals and vaccines, over the counter medicines, health-related consumer products. For company information, visit SmithKline Beecham on the World Wide Web at http://www.sb.com .
The CODE-2 Study is supported by an educational grant from SmithKline Beecham plc. *Trademark of SmithKline Beecham plc (CODE-2 -- Cost of Diabetes in Europe -- Type 2 Study)
References
1. King H, Aubert RE & Herman WH. Global burden of diabetes, 1995--2025: prevalence, numerical estimates, and projections. Diabetes Care 1998; 21:1414--1431.
2. World Health Organization. The World Health Report: conquering suffering, enriching humanity. Geneva: WHO, 1997.
3. Bakst A, Wisner CL, Kirsch J, et al. The Cost Of Diabetes in Europe -- Type 2 Study: micro- and macrovascular complications and disease progression are primary independent drivers of increased costs in diabetes. Abstract EASD 2000.