Economic Impact of Diabetes in Africa

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review seeks to address knowledge gaps around the economic burden of diabetes in Africa. Africa is home to numerous endemic infections and also prevalent non-communicable diseases including diabetes. It is projected that the greatest increases in diabetes prevalence will occur in Africa. The importance of this review therefore lies in providing adequate knowledge on the economic challenges that diabetes poses to the continent and describe the way forward in tackling this epidemic.Recent FindingsDiabetes contributes to a huge amount of the global health expenditure in the world. There is a dearth of information on the economic burden of diabetes in Africa with very limited number of studies in the area. Predictions do show that Africa has the greatest predicted increase in both the burden of diabetes and associated diabetic complications but yet contributes the lowest in the global annual healthcare expenses with regard to diabetes care. In 2017, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated the total health expenditure due to diabetes at $3.3 billion. In Nigeria, the national annual direct costs of diabetes was estimated in the range of $1.071 billion to $1.639 billion per year while the estimated monthly direct medical costs per individual in Cameroon stands at $148. In Sudan, the direct cost of type 2 diabetes control was $175 per year which only included the cost of medications and ambulatory care. People with diabetes are likely to ex...
Source: Current Diabetes Reports - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research