OBJECTIVES:

Current reported data for Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in Argentina is insufficient for conducting well-grounded economic evaluations. We aim to identify the economic profile of DM in Argentina, focusing on key dimensions to construct its local economic profile.

METHODS:

A comprehensive systematic review was conducted using a PICO strategy.. The population was defined as individuals with DM. The profile was analyzed based on burden of disease, hospitalization costs, and absenteeism. All amounts are expressed in USD 2022.

RESULTS:

A total of 305 studies were found to be relevant for Argentina. The burden of diabetes was estimated in 1.3 million DALYs, of which 85% is explained by disabilities. Direct cost expenditure for patients with complications was 3.6 times higher compared with patients without. An average diabetic hospitalization was estimated to be$2,566.56 USD. Hospitalizations were more frequent in patients with diabetes (5.5 times higher) and with comorbidities; specifically, Hospitalization costs associated with cardiovascular diseases were demonstrated to be higher than all other complications ($2,470.59 ± 438.30 USD). Additionally, these costs were higher when patients presented acute (OR 3.61) and chronic (OR 4.26) complications. Absenteeism was higher for patients with T2D with complications, having missed more working days (16.2 versus 8.48). Cognitive dysfunction was found in 52.7% of patients aged 65 and above.

CONCLUSIONS:

Diabetes Mellitus seems to be a condition with a high burden of disease in Argentina, exerting a significant sanitary and financial impact, especially, in those cases with associated complications.