OBJECTIVES: Conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the methodologies used in studies of economic burden of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).

METHODS: An independent SLR was conducted according to the Cochrane methodological guidelines. The following databases were used: PubMed, VHL Regional Portal, Cochrane Library, International HTA, York University, MEDLINE and Google Scholar. The search was not limited by publication date or language. All titles and abstracts identified were screened by two independent investigators. For the study selection, those that had statistical analysis of cost estimation were considered, excluding those with a medical intervention.

RESULTS: A total of 133 studies were included after duplicates removal. Upon careful examination, 9 studies were included into this SLR. Most of them used a bottom-up methodology to extract the data (8 of 9 studies). These studies looked at direct costs, outpatient costs, and other costs, such as those related to rehabilitation. Four studies used a society perspective, three studies used a payers perspective and the others used both perspectives. Likewise, they analyzed the indirect costs associated mainly with the costs or economic loss due to disability, early retirement or others caused by the disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall in the studies, it was found that there is a substantial and consistent economic burden of CKD in T2D, and the burden grows stronger as the disease worsens. In this way, all the studies reinforce the idea that controlling the disease in its early stages reduces the economic costs associated with diabetic nephropathy. It is important to recognize differences in costs due to diversity of healthcare systems, sociodemographic characteristics, and geographic issues.