Impact of cardiovascular disease on health care economic burden and resource utilization: a retrospective cohort study in adults in the United States with type 2 diabetes with or without stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral arterial disease.

Compared to patients without type 2 diabetes (T2D), patients with T2D have a greater chance of having a stroke, heart attack, and narrowing of blood vessels in the arms and legs (peripheral artery disease [PAD]). A stroke, heart attack, or PAD may lead to hospitalization or death. We sought to understand healthcare usage (hospital visits, emergency room visits, office visits, etc.) and costs associated with stroke, heart attack, and PAD in patients with T2D in the United States. Healthcare resource usage and costs were estimated by using data from health insurance claims to compare healthcare usage and costs among patients with T2D, some of whom had a stroke, heart attack, or PAD, and some who did not. Compared to patients with T2D without stroke/heart attack/PAD, patients with T2D and stroke/heart attack/PAD had more overnight hospital visits, doctors' office visits, and emergency room visits. Patients with T2D and stroke/heart attack/PAD also had longer hospital stays. Patients with T2D and stroke/heart attack/PAD all had higher total healthcare costs in the year following their diagnoses, compared to patients with T2D without stroke/heart attack/PAD. By highlighting the greater costs and use of healthcare associated with stroke, heart attack, and PAD in patients with T2D, we hope to encourage more preventative management of stroke, heart attack, and PAD in patients with T2D.