Christine M Fray-Aiken
The None in Three Research Centre, Jamaica
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Diabetes Metab
Statement of the Problem: One quarter of Jamaicans are obese. Among Jamaicans, 70% of women and 20% of men have high waist circumferences, while 70% of women and 9% of men have high waist-to-hip ratios. In addition, 8% of Jamaicans have diabetes. Obesity is associated with diabetes and is likely to contribute significantly to health care cost burden of diabetes in the Jamaican society. The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the contribution of obesity to this cost among hospital patients. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A cost-of-illness approach was used to estimate the cost of care for T2DM in a hospital setting. Cost and service utilization data were collected from the hospital records of all patients who visited a Kingston hospital over a one year period. Patients were chosen if they visited for T2DM and were between the ages of 15 and 74 years of age and if females, were not pregnant during that year. Costs were categorized as direct or indirect. Direct costs included those for drugs prescribed to patients, consultation visits, hospitalizations, allied health services, diagnostic and treatment procedures. Indirect costs included premature mortality, disability (permanent, and temporary), and absenteeism. Indirect costs were discounted by 3%. Findings: Cost of care for T2DM was estimated at US$2,666,338.46 and the cost attributable to obesity at US$557,775.44 (21% of total cost). The direct cost was estimated at US$1,714,614.27 with female patients accounting for 64% of this cost. Indirect cost was estimated at US$951,724.19 with male patients accounting for 66% of this cost. Seventy-five percent of the cost attributable to obesity was accrued by female patients. Conclusion & Significance: The cost of care for T2DM is high. The management and prevention of obesity can be measures considered in reducing potential economic losses.
Christine Fray-Aiken areas of research are in obesity, chronic non-communicable diseases and their economic impact. She presently serves as Country Director for The None in Three Research Centre Jamaica. None in Three (Ni3) is an international research project investigating gender based violence (GBV) in 4 countries: UK, Uganda, India and Jamaica. Ni3 comprises a multi-disciplinary, cross-cultural team of researchers, game developers, media technicians, policy makers and educational leaders with advanced skills in the use of frontier technologies in education settings and innovative communication strategies for addressing GBV at the global level and in specific socio-cultural contexts.
E-mail: caiken@utech.edu.jm
