THE ECONOMIC COST OF PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS: PROJECTING THE SOCIOECONOMIC BURDEN OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA IN CHILE (2017-2032)
Author(s)
Catherine Gejman, MPH1, Constanza Esquivel, B.S.1, Ximena Paredes, PhD1, Juan I. Altuna, BEc2, Josue Hidalgo, PharmD3, Malina Müller, BA, MA, PhD4, Davide Lovera, MPH5;
1Roche, Santiago, Chile, 2Roche, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 3Roche Central America, Alajuela, Costa Rica, 4WifOR Institute, Darmstadt, Germany, 5WifOR Institute, Berlin, Germany
1Roche, Santiago, Chile, 2Roche, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 3Roche Central America, Alajuela, Costa Rica, 4WifOR Institute, Darmstadt, Germany, 5WifOR Institute, Berlin, Germany
OBJECTIVES: Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), a critical manifestation of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), constitutes the primary cause of irreversible blindness in the working-age population worldwide. Its progression leads to severe long-term socioeconomic consequences, including reduced labor participation and increased healthcare costs. Given the sustained growth in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) prevalence in Chile, quantifying the Socioeconomic Burden (SoB) of DME is essential for effective strategic planning and resource allocation. This study quantifies and projects the health and socioeconomic impact of DME in Chile for the 2017-2032 period, employing the methodology developed by the WifOR Institute, to inform effective public health policies.
METHODS: The health burden was measured using Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Due to missing DME-specific Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, DME DALYs were estimated by leveraging the DME/Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) prevalence ratio multiplied by readily available AMD DALYs. Following WifOR methodology, productivity losses were monetized based on Gross Value Added (GVA), including paid and unpaid work losses over the 2017-2032 period.
RESULTS: From 2017 to 2023, DME resulted in a loss of 45,412 DALYs, associated with a socioeconomic impact of USD 1.1 billion. Projections for 2024-2032 show 78,517 DALYs lost, associated with an impact of USD 2,387,636,160. Over the study period, a projected increase of 70% in DALYs and 140% in lost productivity is observed. Notably, 59% of the socioeconomic impact occurred in the working population (20-59 years).
CONCLUSIONS: The projected increase in DALYs and productivity losses demonstrates a significant and growing socioeconomic impact of DME on Chile’s public health and economy. This burden, primarily driven by disability within the working-age population, underscores the imperative need for effective healthcare strategies—including prevention, early detection, and effective management—to mitigate the negative long-term economic and societal consequences. These findings reinforce the urgency of implementing comprehensive public policies in DME.
METHODS: The health burden was measured using Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Due to missing DME-specific Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, DME DALYs were estimated by leveraging the DME/Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) prevalence ratio multiplied by readily available AMD DALYs. Following WifOR methodology, productivity losses were monetized based on Gross Value Added (GVA), including paid and unpaid work losses over the 2017-2032 period.
RESULTS: From 2017 to 2023, DME resulted in a loss of 45,412 DALYs, associated with a socioeconomic impact of USD 1.1 billion. Projections for 2024-2032 show 78,517 DALYs lost, associated with an impact of USD 2,387,636,160. Over the study period, a projected increase of 70% in DALYs and 140% in lost productivity is observed. Notably, 59% of the socioeconomic impact occurred in the working population (20-59 years).
CONCLUSIONS: The projected increase in DALYs and productivity losses demonstrates a significant and growing socioeconomic impact of DME on Chile’s public health and economy. This burden, primarily driven by disability within the working-age population, underscores the imperative need for effective healthcare strategies—including prevention, early detection, and effective management—to mitigate the negative long-term economic and societal consequences. These findings reinforce the urgency of implementing comprehensive public policies in DME.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE342
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies, Novel & Social Elements of Value, Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
STA: Multiple/Other Specialized Treatments