Self-monitoring blood glucose: strips consumption rate and costs in Argentina

GAGLIARDINO JJ ET AL.

New Orleans

Congreso; ISPOR 18th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MEETING; 2013

International Society For Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research

BACKGROUND: Self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) is a useful tool to optimize diabetes control but increases its care cost. However, there is no data about its usage and cost in Argentina. OBJECTIVES: To estimate, in Argentina, the number of strips used for SMBG at the Social Security system (SSS) and its relationship with the type of treatment and degree of metabolic control. METHODS: An observational-retrospective study employing registries from the Pharmaceutical College of the Province of Buenos Aires (COLFARMA, 8115 anonymized recipes of drugs and strips prescribed in the period February to April 2012) and from one organization of the SSS (OSPERYH, 681 affiliates, strips consumption plus laboratory data during 2010). Statistical analysis includes ANOVA, t-test, U de Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis. RESULTS: OSPERYH: strips were provided under an audit system that assesses diabetes education, type of treatment and degree of metabolic control. Monthly overall average consumption was 24.6±14.5 (mean±SD) and it was strongly related to the treatment: insulin 34.5±16.6 and oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) 22.5±12.6. In each group, people with HbA1c values < 7% consumed more strips than those above such value. COLFARMA: the overall average strips consumption was 97.5±70.1. The types of treatment significantly affect strips consumption: insulin alone 111.0±76.3, insulin+OAD 89.0±62.5, combined OAD 74.7±47.3 and OAD monotherapy 66.2±45.0 strips. Despite this consumption was almost four times larger than in OSPERYH, the treatment dependent consumption pattern was similar in both groups. The strips represent, on average, 44 and 66% of the total cost of the prescription in COLFARMA and OSPERHY, respectively; and vary according to the treatment (OSPERHY and COLFARMA): OAD monotherapy 66 and 85%; combined OAD 39% and 62%; insulin 28 and 53%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The number of strips increased as a function of the type of treatment and attainment of therapeutic goals. Prescription audit significantly decreased such consumption.