Analysis of the Cost of Pharmacological Care for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on the Colombian Atlantic Coast: 2019-2022 Risk Cohort Analysis

OBJECTIVES: Analyze the costs associated with pharmacological care for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on the Colombian Atlantic Coast, within a risk cohort from 2019 to 2022, to understand the economic burden and identify potential areas for financial optimization in treatment protocols.

METHODS: A study with descriptive analysis. which includes the collection of data on medication costs, the demographics of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are part of the specified cohort. The analysis would summarize the data to identify patterns and averages in the cohort's pharmacologic care expenditures over the four-year period.

RESULTS: The analysis of pharmacological costs for type 2 diabetes treatments on Colombia's Atlantic coast from 2019 to 2022 reveals a substantial increase in expenses, particularly for high-cost medications like Dapagliflozin. The macro-costing approach, applied to assign total costs to each service, highlighted a significant rise in medication costs (61% in 2021 and 26% in 2022) and a concentrated expenditure in a few healthcare institutions. The most notable findings include: 1- A 61% rise in medication costs in 2021 and 26% in 2022. 2-Dapagliflozin being the costliest drug in 2022. 3- High spending concentration in select healthcare facilities. 4- Annual increase in per capita medication costs.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need for detailed analyzes of health outcomes to better assess efficiency in resource use. This comprehensive examination emphasizes the importance of strategic resource management in healthcare.These insights point to growing financial challenges in diabetes management, particularly with specific high-cost drugs, and the need for strategic healthcare spending. These results show an increasing trend line in relation to the per capita cost of medications and increasing financial challenges in the management of type 2 diabetes.