The Global Economic Burden of Type 1 Diabetes: Current Estimates and Projections to 2040
Author(s)
Maddalena Ferranna, PhD1, Jee H. Choe, MS2, Faith Ross, MPH3, Daniel Tortorice, PhD4, Ella Zomer, PhD5, Sophia Zoungas, PhD, MD5, Anthony Pease, PhD, MD5, Jeffrey Cannon, PhD6, Jeffrey Braithwaite, PhD, MBA7, Yvonne Zurynski, PhD7, Tony Huynh, PhD8, Jennifer Couper, MD9, Tim Jones, PhD, MD10, Elizabeth Davis, PhD, MD10, David Bloom, PhD3;
1University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2University of Southern California, Doctoral Student, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 3Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA, 4College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, USA, 5Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 6Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia, 7Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, 8The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 9The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, 10Telethone Kids Institute, Perth, Australia
1University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2University of Southern California, Doctoral Student, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 3Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA, 4College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, USA, 5Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 6Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia, 7Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, 8The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 9The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, 10Telethone Kids Institute, Perth, Australia
OBJECTIVES: The health burden of type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been rising globally over the past decades, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, an estimation of T1D’s global economic burden and country-specific distribution is lacking. This study's objective is to estimate the global economic burden of T1D, its distribution across different geographies, and to project its future trends.
METHODS: We determined the economic burden of T1D using two alternative methodologies: a cost-of-illness study (COI) and a value-per-statistical-life (VSL) approach. Data on T1D prevalence and mortality by country and broad age groups up to 2040 are derived from the T1D Index. For the COI study, we conducted a literature review to estimate the healthcare costs, the labor income losses, and the caregiver costs associated with T1D across different countries. For the VSL study, we estimated country-specific VSLs using standard methods from the literature.
RESULTS: The current economic burden of T1D is substantial and ranges from $84.4 billion (COI approach) to $479 billion (VSL approach with country-specific estimates) globally, depending on the adopted economic evaluation method (Table 1). The largest burden is estimated in high-income countries. The economic burden of T1D is expected to more than double by 2040 at the global level. The largest increases in economic burden over time are expected to occur in Africa and South Asia. The COI approach produces more conservative burden estimates since it neglects to account for the intrinsic value of health.
CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the evaluation method used, the economic burden of T1D is high and expected to increase over time, thereby calling for more investment in prevention, early detection, and better treatments for T1D. Our findings can serve as a tool for advocacy and as guidance in investment decisions.
METHODS: We determined the economic burden of T1D using two alternative methodologies: a cost-of-illness study (COI) and a value-per-statistical-life (VSL) approach. Data on T1D prevalence and mortality by country and broad age groups up to 2040 are derived from the T1D Index. For the COI study, we conducted a literature review to estimate the healthcare costs, the labor income losses, and the caregiver costs associated with T1D across different countries. For the VSL study, we estimated country-specific VSLs using standard methods from the literature.
RESULTS: The current economic burden of T1D is substantial and ranges from $84.4 billion (COI approach) to $479 billion (VSL approach with country-specific estimates) globally, depending on the adopted economic evaluation method (Table 1). The largest burden is estimated in high-income countries. The economic burden of T1D is expected to more than double by 2040 at the global level. The largest increases in economic burden over time are expected to occur in Africa and South Asia. The COI approach produces more conservative burden estimates since it neglects to account for the intrinsic value of health.
CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the evaluation method used, the economic burden of T1D is high and expected to increase over time, thereby calling for more investment in prevention, early detection, and better treatments for T1D. Our findings can serve as a tool for advocacy and as guidance in investment decisions.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EE46
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)