Costs of diabetes - A methodological analysis of the literature

Objective: To review studies on the costs of diabetes and its complications through a scheme designed specifically for assessing the quality of cost-o f-illness (COI) studies. Design and Setting: The methodology of COI studies in diabetes was analysed in order to assess the significance of quantitative results. The scheme ad opted 7 items identified as the main points for discussing the methodologic al choices governing the results. We also used a checklist based on questio ns related to the 7 items. Main outcome measures and results: The answers showed that many studies app ear not to give technical details, so it is hard to understand the method. Methodological choices varied widely between the studies. This is probably due to the lack of consensus on the methodology of COI studies. Based on th e findings of this review, we suggest also some specific points that could help produce more reliable results on the costs of diabetes. Conclusions: Clearly, a general consensus on COI studies is still remote, m aking the value of any comparison of results questionable.