Economic Evaluation of Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion for Children with Diabetes—Part II

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess long-term metabolic outcomes in children with diabetes mellitus and to compare the efficacy, feasibility and metabolic control expenses for treatment with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), compared to human insulin treatment. The study sample included 34 children aged 3 to 18 years with type 1 diabetes, 17 with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy and 17 with standard treatment with human insulin. The study observed for the following variables: duration of the disease, diabetic control, HbA1c deviation scores; height and weight deviation and price of the treatment. Methods applied include meta-analyses in the published medical literature, pharmacoeconomic analysis and statistical analysis. From the 34 children with diabetes type 1 observed retrospectively during the period 1999-2012 , 17 were on CSII (mean age 10 years, mean duration of the disease—7 years, average usage of CSII—3 years). The test stripes cost 533 Euro/year (1100 stripes per year) and their average cost according to the duration of the disease is 3779.45 Euro since diagnosis. The blood glucose monitoring system costs 20 Euro and for the duration of the disease—4.96 Euro per patient per year. The average improvement of HbA(1c) after the CSII introduction is 1.85, while after the application of human insulin—0.28. The treatment with CSII leads to significant i mprovement in glycemic control compared to the treatment with human insulin. The reduced HbA(1c) shows good diabetes management, from one point of view, and good quality of life—from another.