REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE ON THE DIRECT MEDICAL COSTS OF DIABETES-RELATED COMPLICATIONS AT A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: A RETROSPECTIVE COST-OF-ILLNESS STUDY
Author(s)
Lea Ghajar, MSc, PharmD1, Lamees Almuallem, MBE, MPH1, Paola Nassar, MSc1, Youmna Bassil, PharmD1, Russell Becker, MSc1, Bader Hamad Alrushidan, PharmD2, Abdulrahman Almutairi, PharmD2, Lamis Saleh Alomair, PharmD2, Bander Balkhi, PharmD, PhD2.
1Center of Clinical, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
1Center of Clinical, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate direct medical costs associated with diabetes-related complications among patients at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia and characterize cost drivers by complication.
METHODS: A retrospective real-world cost-of-illness study was conducted using electronic health record data from King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, for 2024. Adults (≥18 years) with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (ICD-10: E10/E11) and at least one diabetes-related complication were included. Complications included diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic foot ulcer, and hypoglycemia. Costs were estimated from the hospital provider perspective using patient-level resource utilization. A micro-costing approach was applied. Costs are reported in 2026 Saudi Riyals (SAR) as means with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and medians with interquartile ranges (IQRs).
RESULTS: Fifty patients were included (mean age 54.9 ± 16.2 years); 58% were female, 80% had type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mean diabetes duration was 17.7 years and HbA1c was 8.4%. Retinopathy (18%) and neuropathy/hypoglycemia (14%) were the most frequent isolated complications, while 26% of patients had two or more complications. Overall, 16% required hospitalization (mean stay, 5.0 days), and patients attended a mean of 2.7 outpatient visits. Mean direct medical cost was SAR 16,024 per patient (95% CI: 12,817-19,231), with a median of SAR 14,514 (IQR: 6,015-22,869) and total cohort cost of SAR 801,207. Medications accounted for the largest share of costs (72%), followed by hospitalization (13%) and diagnostic testing (6.1%). Among isolated complications, hypoglycemia (SAR 17,810; n=7, 95% CI: 9,709-25,910), retinopathy (SAR 15,396; n=9, 95% CI: 8,132-22,661), and neuropathy (SAR 15,332; n=7, 95% CI: 6,790-23,874) had the highest mean per-patient costs. Thirteen patients with ≥2 complications incurred mean cost of SAR 21,674 (95% CI: 12,722-30,627).
CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with diabetes-related complications, healthcare costs increased with complication burden, supporting resource planning and prevention strategies in Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: A retrospective real-world cost-of-illness study was conducted using electronic health record data from King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, for 2024. Adults (≥18 years) with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (ICD-10: E10/E11) and at least one diabetes-related complication were included. Complications included diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic foot ulcer, and hypoglycemia. Costs were estimated from the hospital provider perspective using patient-level resource utilization. A micro-costing approach was applied. Costs are reported in 2026 Saudi Riyals (SAR) as means with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and medians with interquartile ranges (IQRs).
RESULTS: Fifty patients were included (mean age 54.9 ± 16.2 years); 58% were female, 80% had type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mean diabetes duration was 17.7 years and HbA1c was 8.4%. Retinopathy (18%) and neuropathy/hypoglycemia (14%) were the most frequent isolated complications, while 26% of patients had two or more complications. Overall, 16% required hospitalization (mean stay, 5.0 days), and patients attended a mean of 2.7 outpatient visits. Mean direct medical cost was SAR 16,024 per patient (95% CI: 12,817-19,231), with a median of SAR 14,514 (IQR: 6,015-22,869) and total cohort cost of SAR 801,207. Medications accounted for the largest share of costs (72%), followed by hospitalization (13%) and diagnostic testing (6.1%). Among isolated complications, hypoglycemia (SAR 17,810; n=7, 95% CI: 9,709-25,910), retinopathy (SAR 15,396; n=9, 95% CI: 8,132-22,661), and neuropathy (SAR 15,332; n=7, 95% CI: 6,790-23,874) had the highest mean per-patient costs. Thirteen patients with ≥2 complications incurred mean cost of SAR 21,674 (95% CI: 12,722-30,627).
CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with diabetes-related complications, healthcare costs increased with complication burden, supporting resource planning and prevention strategies in Saudi Arabia.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE478
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Technology Assessment, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), Neurological Disorders, Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin), Surgery, Urinary/Kidney Disorders