Estimating the Economic Burden of Type 2 Diabetes Among the Elderly in Tehran Province

Background: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes tends to rise with age, peaking among the elderly population. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the economic burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among the elderly in Tehran province. Methods: This research employs a descriptive-analytical approach, focusing on T2DM patients who attended the specialized diabetes clinic of Tehran province in 2019. A total of 1256 cases were included in the study. Data collection involved reviewing hospital records and accessing information from the accounting department. Data analysis was conducted using Excel software. Results: The economic burden of T2DM amounted to 432,471,301,510 Rials. Among this, 230,841,323,930 Rials (53.3%) were attributed to the costs of diagnosis and treatment, while 180,365,897,580 Rials (41.7%) were associated with treating disease complications. Additionally, 9,043,200,000 Rials (2%) accounted for non-medical direct costs (NMDC), and 12,220,880 Rials (0.3%) were attributed to NMDC due to complications. Conclusions: Given the substantial financial burden incurred by elderly T2DM patients and the constraints on healthcare resources, it is imperative to prioritize preventive and therapeutic measures for this demographic. Comprehensive efforts are needed to mitigate the costs and consequences of this disease within the healthcare system.