TRACK Implementation: a Bangladesh Scenario.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Endocrinology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Non-communicable diseases, including hyperglycemia, are a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• Diabetes prevalence in Bangladesh was 9.7% in 2011, projected to reach 13.7 million by 2045, making it the 8th most populous country with diabetes.
• Diabetes care costs are substantial, driven by medication and hospitalization, posing a financial burden.

Discussion:

• Diabetes care in Bangladesh incurs significantly higher healthcare utilization (inpatient days, outpatient visits, medications) compared to non-diabetic patients.
• Despite being termed the "Rich Man's Disease," 80% of diabetes cases are in LMICs, with China and India facing a projected 71% increase by 2035.
• The annual average cost per type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patient in Bangladesh was $864.7 in 2017, representing 52% of per capita GDP.

Key Insights:

• Medication constitutes approximately 85% of direct costs for non-hospitalized diabetes patients.
• Diabetes care costs in Bangladesh are 9.8 times higher than general healthcare costs.
• Optimizing diabetes management through lifestyle changes is essential for preventing comorbidities and reducing healthcare expenditure.

Outlook:

• The escalating costs of diabetes treatment threaten to strain public and private healthcare financing in Bangladesh.
• Urgent interventions focusing on lifestyle modifications are needed to mitigate the growing diabetes burden and associated economic impact.
• Addressing the diabetes epidemic is critical for the future health and economic stability of Bangladesh.