Estimated costs of the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers in a tertiary hospital in Turkey

Objective: The prevalence of diabetes and its related complications are increasing, and a considerable portion of healthcare expenditures is spent worldwide on diabetes and its complications. In this study, we investigated the estimated treatment costs of diabetic foot ulcers in a tertiary hospital in Turkey. Methods: A total of 203 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this retrospective study. The study group comprised 91 patients with foot ulcers and the control group comprised 112 patients without any chronic complications. Their demographic characteristics, HbA1c levels and the length of hospital stay were recorded. The patients' bills, received from the hospital billing departments, were analysed. Results: The average cost of diabetes patients with foot ulcers per person was calculated as 976.1 +/- 253.6 USD while it was 430.3 +/- 144.2 USD for diabetes patients without any chronic complications; thus, there was a significant difference between the average cost of these groups (p<0.001). Similarly, there were significant differences between the groups according to the costs of drugs, equipment and services (p<0.001). Conclusion: The estimated cost of treatment of diabetic foot ulcers is high in Turkey. It will continue to be a heavy economic burden if preventive measures are not taken.