Diabetes Incidence And Costs On The Rise In Gordian Study

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 09 Nov 2007 - 13:00 PDT

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A recent study released by Gordian Health Solutions, a leading national health and productivity improvement company, shows that employer-paid diagnosed (non-pharmaceutical) medical costs for diabetes continue to rise significantly-as much as a 64 percent increase in just five years.

Looking at claims data from 2000 to 2004, Gordian researchers report that in 2004 inflation-adjusted dollars, per member per month (PMPM) diabetes costs increased from $1.98 in 2000 to $3.25 in 2004. The research is based on Gordian's work over the past 11 years with large national employers and includes claims data accumulated from 61 organizations totaling nearly $5 billion.

"Diabetes rates continue to rise dramatically. It is no wonder that large employers are engaging the services of population health and disease management providers to reach out to diabetics and those at risk for developing the disease, to encourage them to follow physician recommendations and better self-manage their condition," says Dr. Adam Long, vice president of research and informatics at Gordian. "The goal of conducting this research is to assist physicians in better understanding diabetes incidence rates compared to employer-paid medical costs for diabetes, in hopes that the observed differences will spark innovative treatment ideas."

Uncontrolled or poorly managed diabetes can result in avoidable emergency room visits and inpatient stays, both of which are high-cost care episodes for employers. In addition to the medical costs, diabetes also increases absenteeism and presenteeism (impaired while at work) rates in excess of those of other, healthier employees. Research published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine shows that annual excesses total 6.4 days of absenteeism and 7.3 days of presenteeism. Combined, that totals nearly 3 work weeks per diabetic per year in lost productivity.

Findings from the Gordian study include the following:

- Females' diabetes incidence rates increased 267 percent (from 4 percent to 10.7 percent) with age (19-44 vs. 45-64 years). Their diabetes costs also increased with age, from $2.13 to $5.45 per member per month, a 256 percent increase.

- In comparison, males' diabetes incidence rates increased 714 percent (from 2.1 percent to 15 percent) with age. Their diabetes costs also increased with age, from $1.90 to $5.88 per member per month, a 309 percent increase.

"Study results reinforce the perception that males generally avoid the health care system until they need it the most, which likely results in higher-cost care per episode," says Long. "For example, men are more likely than women to be hospitalized for conditions related to diabetes, and to present with extreme blood glucose levels."

This study's data, along with other research, suggest that men, more than women, need their employer's push to meet with their physician regularly and adhere to their recommendations (e.g., self-monitoring of blood glucose levels, taking medications), so that symptom severity is controlled.

For more information on managing diabetes, as well as access to the full research article, visit Gordian's website at http://www.gordian-health.com.

About Gordian Health Solutions, Inc.

Gordian is a leading national health and productivity improvement company that offers a comprehensive suite of products and services, such as population health risk analysis, telephonic lifestyle and chronic condition coaching, online products, health screenings, personal health assessments and incentive management services. Gordian helps employers, health plans and government entities identify, control and manage health risk factors and their associated costs through targeted and tailored programs, and sophisticated informatics and reporting capabilities.

Gordian Health Solutions