Health-Economic Consequences of Diabetic Foot Lesions

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 39; no. Supplement-2; pp. S132 - S139
• Main Authors: Ragnarson Tennvall, Gunnel, Apelqvist, Jan
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.08.2004; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Amputation; Amputation - economics; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Associated diseases and complications; Biological and medical sciences; Cost of Illness; Diabetes; Diabetes complications; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diabetic foot; Diabetic Foot - complications; Diabetic Foot - economics; Diabetic Foot - therapy; Economic costs; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Foot ulcer; Healing; Health Care Costs; Humans; Infections; Lesions; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Endocrinopathy; Skin disease; Costs; Prognosis; Awareness; Peripheral neuropathy; Epidemiology; Modeling; Prevention; Education; Surgery; Disease of the foot; Diabetic foot; Complication; Ulcer; Public health; Human; Nervous system diseases; Diabetes mellitus; Method; Foot; Infection; Antibiotic; Clinical management; Treatment; Surgical amputation; Health economy; Economic aspect; Lesion; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/383275

Diabetic foot complications result in huge costs for both society and the individual patients. Few reports on the health-economic consequences of diabetic foot infections have been published. In studies considering a wide societal perspective, costs of antibiotics were relatively low, whereas total costs for topical treatment were high relative to the total costs of foot infections. Total direct costs for healing of infected ulcers not requiring amputation are ∼$17,500 (in 1998 US dollars), whereas the costs for lower-extremity amputations are ∼$30,000–$33,500 depending on the level of amputation. Prevention of foot ulcers and amputations by various methods, including patient education, proper footwear, and foot care, in patients at risk is cost effective or even cost saving. Awareness of the potential influence of reimbursement systems on prevention, management, and outcomes of diabetic foot lesions has increased. Despite methodological obstacles, modeling studies are needed in future health-economic evaluations to determine the cost effectiveness of various strategies.