Cost-based Comparative Analysis of Diabetic Hand Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Background:The Social Insurance Institution of Turkey reported that in 2021, there were approximately 12 million patients with diabetes under universal health insurance. and the expenditure was incurred for the treatment of complications was TL 2.6 billion.Although previous studies have analyzed the cost of diabetic foot ulcers, no study from Turkey has yet compared the costs of diabetic hand ulcers and foot ulcers and analyzed the relationship between the cost and demographic characteristics of patients. Methods:From January 2022 to June 2022, the data of 49 patients with diabetic hand ulcers and 44 patients with diabetic foot ulcers were analyzed retrospectively according to demographic datas and costs.Correlations were analyzed using cross tables, chi-square statistics, and partial correlation analysis, and groups were compared using t-test for independent groups and covariance analysis. Results:The calculated average cost of patients who were followed up and treated for diabetic hand and foot ulcers was 257.01 USD and 462.54 USD, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the patients with diabetic hand and diabetic foot ulcers in terms of mean age, length of hospital stay, or HBA1C and CRP levels at admission. The mean cost of the diabetic hand was lower than that of the diabetic foot, and this difference was statistically significant. Conclusion:Although diabetic hand infections are less costly and cause fewer major amputations, it is a clinical condition that should be given at least as much attention as diabetic foot ulcer due to its atypical localized onset and the reproductive potential of different microorganisms.