Diabetes, its treatment, and catastrophic medical spending in 35 developing countries.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the individual financial impact of having diabetes in developing countries, whether diabetic individuals possess appropriate medications, and the extent to which health insurance may protect diabetic individuals by increasing medication possession or decreasing the risk of catastrophic spending.

Research design and methods

Using 2002-2003 World Health Survey data (n = 121,051 individuals; 35 low- and middle-income countries), we examined possession of medications to treat diabetes and estimated the relationship between out-of-pocket medical spending (2005 international dollars), catastrophic medical spending, and diabetes. We assessed whether health insurance modified these relationships.

Results

Diabetic individuals experience differentially highe

SUBMITTER: Smith-Spangler CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3263916 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature