Blood glucose test strip use: patterns, costs and potential cost reduction associated with reduced testing

Gomes T, Juurlink DN, Shah BR, Paterson JM, Mamdani MM
Record ID 32011000208
English
Authors' objectives:

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is common in patients with diabetes, but recent evidence suggests the practice has limited clinical benefi t in many patients and may, in fact, be harmful in some cases. The use of blood glucose test strips has risen sharply over the past decade; however, the financial implications of this rise in use have not been explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the costs associated with rising blood glucose test strip use over the past 12 years. Furthermore, this study explores the cost impact of reducing glucose test strip use in elderly Ontarians with diabetes.

Authors' recommendations: Our analysis of the costs associated with blood glucose test strips in elderly Ontarians found that the implementation of policies that focus self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) test strip use on patients likely to benefit from them could yield substantial cost reduction over the next five years. These resources could be redirected to more effectiveinterventions for patients with diabetes.
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.ices.on.ca/file/Blood%20Glucose%20Test%20Strip_Dec2009.pdf
Year Published: 2009
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Canada
MeSH Terms
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
Contact
Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
Contact Address: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, 2075 Bayview Avenue, G-Wing, Toronto ON, Canada, M5N 3M5. Tel: 416-480-4055; Fax: 416-480-6048
Contact Name: info@ices.on.ca
Contact Email: info@ices.on.ca
Copyright: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.