Health Care Utilization and Costs in Saskatchewan's Registered Indian Population with Diabetes
Author Information
Author(s): Pohar Sheri L, Johnson Jeffrey A
Primary Institution: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health
Hypothesis
The study aims to compare health care utilization and expenditures between Registered Indians and the general population with diabetes in Saskatchewan.
Conclusion
Both registered Indians and the general population with diabetes had significantly higher health care utilization and costs compared to individuals without the disease.
Supporting Evidence
- Registered Indian diabetes cases were younger than general population cases.
- Diabetes increased the probability of health care resource utilization for both populations.
- Per capita health care expenditures for diabetes subgroups were more than twice that of their respective controls.
Takeaway
This study found that Native Canadians with diabetes go to the doctor and the hospital more often than other people with diabetes, which costs a lot more money.
Methodology
The study used administrative databases to identify diabetes cases and controls, assessing health care resource utilization and costs for the year 2001.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of diabetes cases due to reliance on fee-for-service billing.
Limitations
The study did not capture all health care costs, such as prescription drug use and services managed under global budgets.
Participant Demographics
11.3% of diabetes cases were Registered Indians, with a mean age of 45.7 years for registered Indian cases.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 3,336 to 3,908
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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