Abstract
BackgroundData on the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle-based diabetes prevention programs are mostly from high-income countries, which cannot be extrapolated to low- and middle-income countries. We performed a trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis of a lifestyle intervention targeted at preventing diabetes in India.MethodsThe Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program was a cluster-randomized controlled trial of 1007 individuals conducted in 60 polling areas (electoral divisions) in Kerala state. Participants (30–60 years) were those with a high diabetes risk score and without diabetes on an oral glucose tolerance test. The intervention group received a 12-month peer-support lifestyle intervention involving 15 group sessions delivered in community settings by trained lay peer leaders. There were also linked community activities to sustain behavior change. The control group received a booklet on lifestyle change. Costs were estimated from the health system and societal perspectives, with 2018 as the reference year. Effectiveness was measured in terms of the number of diabetes cases prevented and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Three times India’s gross domestic product per capita (US$6108) was used as the cost-effectiveness threshold. The analyses were conducted with a 2-year time horizon. Costs and effects were discounted at 3% per annum. One-way and multi-way sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsBaseline characteristics were similar in the two study groups. Over 2 years, the intervention resulted in an incremental health system cost of US$2.0 (intervention group: US$303.6; control group: US$301.6), incremental societal cost of US$6.2 (intervention group: US$367.8; control group: US$361.5), absolute risk reduction of 2.1%, and incremental QALYs of 0.04 per person. From a health system perspective, the cost per diabetes case prevented was US$95.2, and the cost per QALY gained was US$50.0. From a societal perspective, the corresponding figures were US$295.1 and US$155.0. For the number of diabetes cases prevented, the probability for the intervention to be cost-effective was 84.0% and 83.1% from the health system and societal perspectives, respectively. The corresponding figures for QALY gained were 99.1% and 97.8%. The results were robust to discounting and sensitivity analyses.ConclusionsA community-based peer-support lifestyle intervention was cost-effective in individuals at high risk of developing diabetes in India over 2 years.Trial registrationThe trial was registered with Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12611000262909). Registered 10 March 2011.
Highlights
Data on the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle-based diabetes prevention programs are mostly from highincome countries, which cannot be extrapolated to low- and middle-income countries
Available evidence shows that lifestyle intervention is generally cost-effective in highrisk individuals for diabetes, but is based overwhelmingly on studies conducted in high-income countries [8]
The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) [19], which comprises age, family history of diabetes, physical activity, and waist circumference, was administered by trained staff. Those with an IDRS score of ≥ 60 were invited to attend clinics organized in local neighborhoods to undergo an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Those diagnosed with diabetes based on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria [20] were excluded and referred to healthcare facilities for treatment and care
Summary
Data on the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle-based diabetes prevention programs are mostly from highincome countries, which cannot be extrapolated to low- and middle-income countries. Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, with its health burden falling increasingly upon the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [1]. Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) shows that lifestyle interventions for individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes can reduce progression to diabetes [3], microvascular complications [4], and cardiovascular events [4], and improve cardiovascular risk factors [5, 6] and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [7, 8]. Available evidence shows that lifestyle intervention is generally cost-effective in highrisk individuals for diabetes, but is based overwhelmingly on studies conducted in high-income countries [8]. Resources are much more limited in LMICs than in high-income countries, so cost-effective interventions in high-income countries may not be affordable in LMICs
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