Economic impact of cardiovascular co-morbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes

ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of cardiovascular co-morbidity on total and diabetes-related healthcare costs in patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsRetrospective analysis of the West Virginia state Medicaid claims data was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes (ICD-9 codes: 250.0x–250.9x, where x=0 or 2) in the year 2001. Patients ≥65 years of age or those with managed care coverage were excluded. Presence of cardiovascular co-morbidity in the year 2001 was identified. Semi-logarithmic regression models were used to estimate the impact of cardiovascular co-morbidity on total and diabetes-related healthcare costs in the year 2002.Two-part models were used to study the impact of cardiovascular co-morbidity on ER/hospitalization, outpatient, and prescription costs. Smearing estimates were used to interpret the results from the semi-logarithmic models.ResultsPresence of cardiovascular co-morbidity had a significant impact on all categories of total and diabetes-related healthcare costs, except diabetes-related prescription drug costs. Type 2 diabetes patients with cardiovascular co-morbidity had significantly higher total healthcare costs (38.9%, $12,550 vs. $9031), total ER/hospitalization costs (239.8%, $4845 vs. $1426), total outpatient costs (35.3%, $3956 vs. $2925), and total prescription drug costs (15.1%, $4686 vs. $4071) compared to those without cardiovascular co-morbidity. Similarly, type 2 diabetes patients with cardiovascular co-morbidity had significantly higher total diabetes-related healthcare costs (59.7%, $4349 vs. $2724), ER/hospitalization costs (346.8%, $1911 vs. $428), and outpatient costs (17.4%, $740 vs. $631) compared to patients without cardiovascular co-morbidity.ConclusionsPresence of cardiovascular co-morbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes had a significant impact on total and diabetes-related healthcare costs.