Assefa B., Wondimu A., Abrha S., Dinda S.C., Demeke B., Gebre-Samuel N., Assen A., Molla F., Yilma Z.
Assefa, B., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Wondimu, A., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Abrha, S., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Dinda, S.C., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Demeke, B., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Gebre-Samuel, N., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Assen, A., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Molla, F., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia; Yilma, Z., Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 1871, Mekelle, Ethiopia
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disorder that poses huge health and economic burden on society. Unfortunately, there is lack of such evidences in Ethiopia. To estimate direct cost of illness of DM in Ayder Referral Hospital in 2012. Cost of illness method was used to determine the economic burden of DM from societal perspective. The direct cost of illness of DM in the year 2012 was estimated using prevalence approach. All patients who were being followed-up for at least a year in the DM clinic of the hospital were included in the study. Data on patients' demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and treatment profile were collected from patients' case notes. A total of 130 DM patients were enrolled in the study, of which 51.54% were females and 48.46% were males. The total cost of illness of diabetes was estimated to be USD 11530.68 in 2012. Of this, 92.48% was direct medical cost and 7.52% was direct non-medical cost. The cost of illness per patient/year is USD 88.70. Most of the costs were spent on drugs (73.10%). Insulin accounted 88.19% of drug cost and 64.45% of the total cost of illness of DM. The mean cost for DM patients with complications (USD 125.78) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to those without complications (USD 76.08). Numbers of visits to DM clinic, type of DM and residence area were also found to affect the cost significantly. The cost associated with diabetes is enormous and it presents a considerable burden to the society. Hence, policy makers should give emphasis for the prevention of the disease and its complications.