Association Between Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitor Use and Diabetes-Related Medical Costs for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Gregory J. Norman, Misti L. Paudel, Christopher G. Parkin, Tim Bancroft, Peter Lynch
Abstract
Little is known about the impact of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rtCGM) on diabetes-related medical costs within the type 2 diabetes (T2D) population. A retrospective analysis of administrative claims data from the Optum Research Database was conducted. Changes in diabetes-related health care resource utilization costs were expressed as per-patient-per-month (PPPM) costs. A total of 571 T2D patients (90% insulin treated) met study inclusion criteria. Average PPPM for diabetes-related medical costs decreased by −$424 (95% confidence interval [CI] −$816 to −$31, P = 0.035) after initiating rtCGM. These reductions were driven, in part, by reductions in diabetes-related inpatient medical costs: −$358 (95% CI −$706 to −$10, P = 0.044). Inpatient hospital admissions were reduced on average −0.006 PPPM ( P = 0.057) and total hospital days were reduced an average of −0.042 PPPM ( P = 0.139). These findings provide real-world evidence that rtCGM use was associated with diabetes-related health care resource utilization cost reductions in patients with T2D.