A new health economics study indicates that diabetic foot disease accounts for a significant proportion of healthcare expenditure in England, and majority of it is being spent on care for prolonged and severe ulceration. The expenditure on diabetic foot disease exceeds the combined healthcare cost of breast, prostate and lung cancers.
Using national and local level data and clinical evidence, researchers determined NHS England's estimated annual expenditure on foot ulceration and amputation care in individuals with diabetes for 2014-2015.
The findings showed that an estimated £837.01 million to £962.38 million was spent on the care of diabetes-related ulceration and amputation in 2014-2015. The healthcare costs for diabetic foot disease accounted for 0.78 to 0.90 per cent of the annual NHS budget for England in 2014-2015. Ulceration alone accounted for 90 per cent of the expenditure. Individuals admitted with diabetic ulcerations spent 8.04 more days (95% CI, 7.65-8.42) in the hospital than those admitted for diabetes without ulceration.
Writing in Diabetic Medicine, the authors said: "It is hoped that knowledge of human and financial costs will increase research effort, clinical attention and compliance with national guidance, to improve ulcer healing rates and reduce amputations."
