OBJECTIVES: In Vietnam, despite the major health concerns of type-2 diabetes mellitus, comprehensive information on its economic costs is lacking. To evaluate the economic burden caused by diabetic patients in a district hospital in Vietnam from 2014 to 2016.

METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted from Jan to June 2017, where the data of 1,841 patients, from 2014 to 2016, were extracted from the records of Dat Do Medical Centre. The study included patients diagnosed with a minimum of explicit diabetic symptoms or prescribed blood glucose lowering medications at a minimal time of one registered outpatient visits and for whom information about hospitalisation without complications was available. Cost components included the costs of operations, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, hospital beds and health care services.

RESULTS: The studied cohort included 582, 670 and 589 patients, in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. The average age range was 59.6±11.2 years. Of the 1,814 patients, 71.8% were females. The economic burden of diabetes was estimated at 26,890; 22,960 and 16,744 USD in 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. A comparison based on the ratio of the yearly costs indicated that pharmaceutical costs accounted for the highest percentage (78.9%, 2014–2016). A comparison of the costs of illness per case indicated that the greatest average cost was incurred by the group of patients aged over 69 years, at 40.9±43 USD.

CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes places a considerable and rising economic burden in Vietnam. Consequently, the findings of this study may form a foundation for the future formulation of investment plans and fund allocations for the appropriate resolution of type-2 diabetes mellitus.