Estimation of the Direct Cost of Diabetes in Ahvaz (the Southwest of Iran): A Descriptive-Analytical Study

Diabetes and its complications have a significant economic effect on society. This study evaluated the annual cost of patients with diabetes in Ahvaz, Iran, for the first time to reduce diabetes costs by identification of cost-induced factors.  A questionnaire was completed for each of 752 patients referring to diabetes clinics in a university hospital. Then, the patients recorded all diabetes-related costs through face-to-face or telephone interviews for one year, including transportation, physician visit, drugs, laboratory tests and imaging, diet prescription, hospitalization, glucometer strips, etc. The patients reported their costs every three months.  The per capita cost of patients with diabetes was USD 1611.19 ± 1366.67 annually. Women had higher per capita costs than men did. The cost of taking medication was the highest compared to other costs (while the cost of diet prescription was the lowest. Of all patients, 14.2 % had at least one diabetic complication. Diabetes-related cardiovascular complications had the highest annual cost for patients. There is no statistically significant correlation between diabetes cost and gender or diabetes duration.   The cost of medications constitutes a major portion of the total direct cost of this disease, whereas the cost of diet prescription was the lowest. Diabetes and its complications have a significant economic effect on the health system. Control of diabetes and complication prevention should be considered to reduce the costs it imposes on the society.