Estimating the cost of complications of diabetes in Australia using administrative health-care data

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate Australian health-care costs in the year of first occurrence and subsequent years for major diabetes-related complications using administrative health-care data. Methods: The costs were estimated using administrative information on hospital services and primary health-care services financed through Australia's national health insurance system Medicare. Data were available for 70,340 patients with diabetes in Western Australia (mean duration of 4.5 years of follow-up). Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate inpatient and primary care costs. Results: For a man aged 60 years, the average costs in the year the event first occurred were: amputation $20,416 (..