Foot care economics--cost burden to diabetic patients with foot complications: a study from southern India.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the direct cost burden of diabetic patients with foot complications. METHODS: An illustrative sample of 270 subjects with type two diabetes were seen at the clinic selected for the study. Among them 164 were without any complication (Group I) and 106 patients were with foot complications (Group II). In the latter group 83 (Group IIA) required in-patient (IP) care and 23 (Group IIB) required out-patient (OP) care. Annual expenses on medical care were estimated by a questionnaire method. Validation of the questionnaire data was verifying the amount spent by checking up the bills. RESULT: Group I spent Rs.4373 (US $ 104 Approx.), Group II spent Rs.15450 (US $ 343 Approx.), Group IIA spent Rs.7200 (US $ 171 Approx.) and Group IIB spent Rs.16910 (US $ 403 Approx.) in the study year. In the total sample of 270 subjects 61% were without foot problems, 22% had foot problems requiring OP treatment only (Group IIA), and 78% had foot problems requiring IP treatment (Group IIB). CONCLUSION: Group IIB spent significantly greater percentage of their income than Group IIA, and both groups spent greater percentage of their income than Group I. All differences were statistically significant.