Reduction of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and cost analysis of treatment with insulin analogues in the state of Paraná: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes mellitus(DM) is a serious public health problem in Brazil. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of long-acting insulin analogues in controlling glycemia in type 1 DM patients and to analyze the direct costs of the treatment. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken with data collected from the State Health Secretary’s 2nd Regional Health Center from the State of Paraná. After randomization, socio-demographic data, the source of their drug prescriptions, and the pharmacotherapeutic profiles of the drugs were collected, along with clinical outcome information, such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose levels. The direct costs of treatment with analogue insulin were evaluated based on the drugs and supplies acquisition data from the Center for Drugs, Paraná Cemepar. Results: One hundred and forty-eight type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, older than 18 years of age, were included in the cohort study. The HbA1c reduction after the insulin treatment was 0.36 ± 2.75, and the direct costs to reduce this parameter by 1% over a period of 24 months were U$ 1,806. The estimated costs to reduce HbA1c by 1% are U$ 5,016. Conclusions: In this study, we were able to estimate the public health system costs of using insulin analogues to reduce HbA1c by 1% in patients with type 1 DM. This information will assist clinicians in decision-making regarding insulin treatment.