Cost-benefit analysis of screening programme for diabetic retinopathy in Bulgaria

Late-diagnosed diabetic retinopathy (DR) is difficult and expensive to treat. Screening programmes can identify the disease early and reduce the costs of its future treatment. This study aims to analyse the cost-benefit of screening programmes for DR.

A cost-benefit method was applied from the perspective of society in Bulgaria for a period of 1 year. The costs of diabetes screening were calculated based on data from a pilot screening that identified 12.5% of affected individuals. Direct medical costs for screening were estimated using procedures such as fundus photography and/or indirect ophthalmoscopy. Indirect costs were calculated as lost productivity through the human capital approach. Benefits were measured as avoided costs for treating DR due to early diagnosis in both forms of the disease-uncomplicated and complicated.

The costs of implementing the screening programme (including diagnostic procedures, medicinal products, patient absence from work and physician labour) are significantly lower than the expected benefits (saved/avoided costs). The benefits are more than the costs of about 3437.48 BGN (standard deviation = 521.95) per 1 patient. For every BGN invested in screening, 9.46 BGN (standard deviation = 1.56) of public resources are saved.

The analysis confirms that early detection through systematic DR screening is highly beneficial among Bulgarian patients with diabetes mellitus. The findings support further implementation of national screening programmes to prevent vision-threatening complications in patients with diabetes.