Willingness to pay for health improvements associated with anti-diabetes treatments for people with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objectives:This study aimed to investigate the most important consequences of diabetes medication, as measured by the patients’ willingness to pay (WTP).Research design and methods:People in Sweden were recruited using existing nationwide e-mail panels if they were adults (≥18 years) with type 2 diabetes and were receiving pharmacological anti-diabetes treatment(s). Data were collected electronically and results were analysed using a standard statistical model designed for choice games (conditional logit). Six characteristics relating to treatment of diabetes were examined: weight (gain or loss), mean glycated haemoglobin level (HbA1c), hypoglycaemic events, nausea, need for injections (with or independently of meals), and blood glucose testing.Results:A total of 461 people with type 2 diabetes (291 males; 170 females) completed an internet questionnaire and were eligible for inclusion. Participants placed high value on weight loss and nausea avoidance; they would pay 176 Swedish Krona (SEK)/€15.61 per month to lose 1 kg, and would pay SEK 560 (€49.67) per month to avoid nausea completely. Patients wanting to reduce the number of hypoglycaemic events from three per month to none were willing to pay SEK 419 (€37.17) per month. Patients valued a 1 percentage point reduction in HbA1c at SEK 414 (€36.72) per month. Participants preferred taking tablets to injections and required a compensation of SEK 376 (€33.35) to accept one injection/day. Injections independent of meals were preferred to injections with meals (WTP: SEK 140/€12.42 per month). Potential limitations of this study are that the preferences expressed may not match preferences in real-life situations, and bias through the use of electronic questionnaire, which restricted participation to those with access to, and experience with, the internet.Conclusion:People with type 2 diabetes were willing to pay a considerable amount of money each month to lose weight, reduce or avoid hypoglycaemic events and reduce HbA1C.