Household’s Catastrophic Health Expenditure in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Study From Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition that substantially threatens public health due to its prevalence and severe adverse effects. Beyond its health consequences, T2D is associated with considerable financial burden. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the magnitude and determinants of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) incurred by patients with T2D.

Methods: Overall, 400 participants with T2D participated in this cross-sectional study in 2022, and a researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. The allocation of at least 40% of non-food expenditures to healthcare (during the last year) was the basis for CHE calculation. The chi-square test was utilized to determine the statistical association between demographic and background variables and CHE occurrence.

Results: It was found that patients incur a mean annual cost of $1138, including 15.5%, 8.5%, and 76% spent on diagnostic expenses, medical visits, and treatment expenditures, respectively. Laboratory services, internist and endocrinologist visits, and medication accounted for the most considerable proportion of diagnostic, physician visits, and treatment costs. About 19.95% of direct medical costs were attributable to non-food costs, while 13.5% of patients experienced CHE. Educational status, employment status, indigenousness, residency in urban and rural areas, supplementary health insurance, disease treatment, the location of getting care, and the statistically significant link between the side effects and occurrence of CHE were among the demographic and background variables.

Conclusion: Although the rate of CHE provided care to diabetic patients is reasonable, health policymakers still need to take steps to resolve the situation through promotion measures.