Economic cost associated with type II diabetes in Spanish patients.

An observational descriptive study was carried out of the healthcare resources consumed during 1 year by a sample of patients with type II diabetes of a healthcare area in southern Spain. A total of 517 patients with a mean duration of disease of 9.7+/-8 years were assessed. A total annual health cost of 4,278 euro/patient was calculated (direct 2,504 euro; indirect 1,774 euro). Multiple regression analysis showed an independent association between total costs and obesity, male sex, number of hospitalizations related to diabetes, permanent disability, macrovascular complications, and both micro- and macrovascular complications. Our findings confirm both the high economic cost associated with type II diabetes and the direct relationship between the costs of the disease and the presence of obesity, male sex, hospitalizations related to diabetes, permanent disability and chronic complications.