SOCIOECONOMIC BURDEN OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA IN ALGERIA: A PREVALENCE-BASED COST-OF-ILLNESS ANALYSIS
Author(s)
Hamida Zaidi, PharmD1, Youcef Tarfani, Prof2, Radia Bensemmane, Prof2, Mohamed Yacine de Achouri, Sr., PharmD, PhD3, hayet otmani, BSc4, Islam. Anan, PharmD5, Malina Müller, BA, MA, PhD6, Khalifa Islam BENGANA, PharmD4.
1University of health sciences Algiers, Algiers, Algeria, 2Ministry of Health, Algeria, Algiers, Algeria, 3Hospital of Nafissa Hamoud, Algiers, Algeria, 4Roche Algérie SPA, Algiers, Algeria, 5Accsight, Cairo, Egypt, 6WifOR Institute, Darmstadt, Germany.
1University of health sciences Algiers, Algiers, Algeria, 2Ministry of Health, Algeria, Algiers, Algeria, 3Hospital of Nafissa Hamoud, Algiers, Algeria, 4Roche Algérie SPA, Algiers, Algeria, 5Accsight, Cairo, Egypt, 6WifOR Institute, Darmstadt, Germany.
OBJECTIVES: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a major cause of vision impairment among working-age adults and imposes substantial healthcare and societal burdens. This study aimed to quantify the epidemiological and economic burden of DME in Algeria using national epidemiological data and real-world clinical inputs.
METHODS: A cost-of-illness model was developed to estimate the burden of DME in Algeria. Epidemiological parameters were obtained from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024) and published Algerian literature. Clinical management patterns and resource utilization data were collected from the Établissement Hospitalier Ophtalmologique (EHO) of Béchar and the Centres Hospitalo-Universitaires (CHUs) of Constantine and CHU Nefissa Hamoud Alger. Patients were stratified by disease laterality and severity. Direct and indirect costs were captured.
RESULTS: The model estimated 191,583 diagnosed DME patients in Algeria. Disease severity was predominantly moderate-to-severe, with 56.0% moderate, 37.3% severe, and 6.7% mild disease. The mean annual direct medical cost per patient was DZD 408,517 (USD 3,056), resulting in a total annual national direct medical cost burden of DZD 78.3 billion (USD 585.5 million). Pharmacological treatment represented the largest cost component (61.0%), followed by ophthalmic procedures (31.3%). The indirect costs caused by absenteeism were 206.1 million DZD (USD 1.5 million).
CONCLUSIONS: DME imposes a substantial economic burden in Algeria, driven by a large diagnosed population and a high proportion of bilateral and moderate-to-severe disease. The growing burden of DME-related visual impairment highlights the need for improved screening, access to innovative treatments, and healthcare capacity planning to address future demand.
METHODS: A cost-of-illness model was developed to estimate the burden of DME in Algeria. Epidemiological parameters were obtained from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024) and published Algerian literature. Clinical management patterns and resource utilization data were collected from the Établissement Hospitalier Ophtalmologique (EHO) of Béchar and the Centres Hospitalo-Universitaires (CHUs) of Constantine and CHU Nefissa Hamoud Alger. Patients were stratified by disease laterality and severity. Direct and indirect costs were captured.
RESULTS: The model estimated 191,583 diagnosed DME patients in Algeria. Disease severity was predominantly moderate-to-severe, with 56.0% moderate, 37.3% severe, and 6.7% mild disease. The mean annual direct medical cost per patient was DZD 408,517 (USD 3,056), resulting in a total annual national direct medical cost burden of DZD 78.3 billion (USD 585.5 million). Pharmacological treatment represented the largest cost component (61.0%), followed by ophthalmic procedures (31.3%). The indirect costs caused by absenteeism were 206.1 million DZD (USD 1.5 million).
CONCLUSIONS: DME imposes a substantial economic burden in Algeria, driven by a large diagnosed population and a high proportion of bilateral and moderate-to-severe disease. The growing burden of DME-related visual impairment highlights the need for improved screening, access to innovative treatments, and healthcare capacity planning to address future demand.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE326
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Technology Assessment, Methodological & Statistical Research
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies, Novel & Social Elements of Value, Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)