The association of insulin medication possession ratio, use of insulin glargine, and health benefit costs in employees and spouses with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract

Measure the impact of insulin utilization on health costs and absenteeism. Compare outcomes between users of insulin glargine and other insulin. Using a large retrospective database, this regression analysis examined annual health costs and absenteeism among employees and spouses with type 2 diabetes who used insulin. The analysis studied impacts of medication possession ratio (MPR) and glargine use, controlling for demographic factors, salary, and prior health care. Higher MPR was associated with significantly lower health costs for patients with high prior costs. Glargine users' MPR was higher than other insulin users' MPR (66% vs 54%, P < 0.0001). Among all insulin users, those using glargine had significantly lower total ($6771 vs $7969, P = 0.0046) and circulatory-specific ($312 vs $636, P < 0.0001) costs. Insulin MPR and the use of insulin glargine were associated with lower health care costs.