Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Successfully Controlling Blood Glucose in Diabetic Patients in Fiscal Year 2010, Medical Service Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

Abstract

The research was a combination of cross-sectional and retrospective study methods. The objective was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of controlling blood glucose in diabetic patients with age 18 year and above of the Diabetic Mellitus Clinic in the outpatient department of Ladkrabung Hospital, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The study included 228 patients who were selected using accidental sampling. In order to analyze the total cost, both provider and patient perspectives were taken into account. The provider cost data was collected from hospital records, while the patient costs data was collected by interview and structured questionnaire. Both cost and outcome data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. The data were calculated by using a computer software program Microsoft Office excel 2007 and SPSS Version 10.1

This study result revealed that the cost-effectiveness of controlling blood glucose in diabetic patients to check fasting blood sugar (FBS) was 56,806.00 baht, which is higher than the cost of monitoring HbA1c which is 16,896.79 baht. The total costs to check HbA1c in diabetic patients were 4,731.10 baht, which is more than that of FBS at 3,976.42 baht.

The effectiveness of checking HbA1c in diabetic patients was 0.28, and  FBS was 0.07.

The expense of checking HbA1c is more than that of FBS, but it is higher effectiveness and  it is better to predict blood glucose control in the past 2-3 months, to

reduce diabetic complications and severity in long-term and decrease the cost in both providers and patients. Further studies should be conducted in other hospitals, and chronic disease in order to obtain stronger evidence.