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INTRODUCTION: FreeStyle Libre® 2 system is a sensor-based flash-monitoring system that measures interstitial fluid glucose. The study aimed to compare cost of FreeStyle Libre 2 system and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population from the Spanish Health System perspective. METHODS: On the basis of data collected from a literature review, the cost of glucose monitoring was modelled for patients with T2DM on a basal-bolus insulin regimen. The cost estimate included annual consumption for glucose monitoring (strips, lancets and sensors) and severe hypoglycaemic events (SHE) management. A published rate of SHE (2.5 episodes/patient-year) was considered. A reduction of SHE (- 48.8%) associated with FreeStyle Libre 2 system, derived from the REPLACE trial, was applied. Hospital attendance for 20.5% of SHEs (with subsequent hospitalization in 16.0%) was applied. Consumption of strips and lancets was set at 6/day for SMBG (derived from national monitoring recommendations), and 0.2/day for FreeStyle Libre 2 system users, with 26 FreeStyle Libre 2 sensors/year. Unitary costs (, year 2020 excluding VAT) were derived from literature (0.28/strip; 0.09/lancet; 3.09/daily FM sensor; 3804/hospitalized SHE; 1794/hospital-attended non-admitted SHE; 389/community-attended SHE). RESULTS: Costs were 2700 and 2120/year/patient using SMBG or FreeStyle Libre 2 system, respectively. For 1000 patients with T2DM using basal-bolus insulin, 1220 SHEs/year (with 48 hospitalizations) could be prevented and FreeSytle Libre 2 system could generate cost savings of up to 580,953/year versus SMBG (- 21.5%). CONCLUSION: FreeStyle Libre 2 system is a potential cost-saving strategy in patients with T2DM in Spain on a basal-bolus insulin regimen.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to detect people at risk of suffering diabetes or changes in carbohydrate metabolism and to refer them for possible diagnosis to health care centres. The number of diagnoses and costs for the pharmacy were recorded. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in community pharmacies in Pontevedra in September-October of 2014. The Findrisc questionnaire was completed by pharmacy users over 18 years old. If Findrisc score was ≥ 15, capillary blood glucose was measured, and the participant was referred to a physician if the value was ≥110mg/dL. The main variables included score in the Findrisc questionnaire, number of diabetes diagnosed, and cost of the service. Differences between the groups were calculated using a Chi-squared test, a Student's t test, and/or a Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: This study was conducted in 180 pharmacies on a sample of 4,222 users, including 992 (23.5%) with a high or very high risk of diabetes (F≥15). In the 1,060 basal capillary blood glucose tests performed, mean glucose level was 110.2 (SD=20.4)mg/dL (56-254). The Galician Health Service sent information about 83 of the 384 (9.1%) subjects referred to a physician: 28 (33.7%) of them were diagnosed with diabetes (3.1% of the sample), and 26 (31.3%) were diagnosed with prediabetes (2.8% of the sample). Cost per diagnosed subject was 184.22 per subject with diabetes and 96.86 per subject with prediabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of subjects with new diagnosis of diabetes (3.1%) shows the high efficiency of a screening program for hidden diabetics implemented at community pharmacies as the one presented here.