Delineating the Type 2 Diabetes Population in the Netherlands Using an All-Payer Claims Database: Specialist Care, Medication Utilization and Expenditures 2016–2018
PharmacoEconomics - Open, vol. 6, pp. 219–229
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the healthcare utilization and expenditures related to medical specialist care and medication of the entire type 2 diabetes population in the Netherlands in detail. METHODS: For this retrospective, observational study, we used an all-payer claims database. Comprehensive data on specialist care and medication utilization and expenditures of the type 2 diabetes population (n = 900,522 in 2018) were obtained and analyzed descriptively. Data were analyzed across medical specialties and for various types of diabetes medication (or glucose-lowering drugs [GLDs]) and other medication. RESULTS: Specialist care utilization was diverse: different medical specialties were visited by a considerable fraction of the type 2 diabetes population. Total expenditures on specialist care were €2498 million in 2018 (i.e., 10.6% of the national specialist care expenditures). In total, 97.8% of patients used other medication (not GLDs) and 81.8% used GLDs; 25.6% of medication expenditures were for GLDs. For both specialist care and medication, mean expenditures per treated patient were higher than median expenditures, indicating a skewed distribution of spending. CONCLUSION: Use of and expenditures on specialist care and medication of the type 2 diabetes population is diverse. These heterogeneous healthcare use patterns are likely caused by the presence of comorbidities. Additionally, we found that a small fraction of the population is responsible for a large share of the expenditures. A shift towards more patient-centered care could lead to health improvements and a reduction in overall costs, subsequently promoting the sustainability of healthcare systems.
Authors 6
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Rose J. Geurten corresponding
Maastricht University · Care and Public Health Research Institute
Affiliation as printed
Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. r.geurten@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center · National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Affiliation as printed
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Campus The Hague, The Hague, The Netherlands
Department of Quality of Care and Health Economics, Center for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Maastricht University · Care and Public Health Research Institute
Affiliation as printed
Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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University Medical Center Groningen
Affiliation as printed
Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Vektis Health Care Information Center, Zeist, The Netherlands
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Maastricht University · Care and Public Health Research Institute
Affiliation as printed
Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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