Economic impact of COVID-19 on patients with type 2 diabetes in Kenya and Tanzania: a costing analysis.

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 affected healthcare access, utilisation and affordability, especially for patients suffering from chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study measured the occurrence and magnitude of changes in healthcare and broader societal costs among patients with T2D before and during COVID-19 in Kenya and Tanzania to understand whether and how COVID-19 affected T2D management in countries implementing different policies during the pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kenya and Tanzania in March-April 2022 among 500 patients with T2D in each country. We interviewed patients on direct healthcare costs (eg, inpatient and outpatient costs), societal costs (eg, productivity loss) and patients' characteristics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated changes over time using the Generalised Linear Model in Kenya and a two-part model in Tanzania, adjusting for patient-level covariates.

RESULTS

The overall costs of management of T2D in most categories increased in both countries during COVID-19, but some of the increase was not significant. Transport and testing costs increased significantly in Tanzania (I$0.33, p<0.01 and I$0.85, p<0.01) but not in Kenya (I$1.69, p=0.659 and I$0.10, p=0.603). Outpatient costs increased significantly in Tanzania (I$8.84, p<0.01) but there was no significant change in Kenya (I$8.09, p=0.432). T2D medication costs did not change in Tanzania (I$0.19, p=0.197), but decreased significantly in Kenya (I$18.48, p<0.01). Productivity losses increased significantly in both countries.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased direct costs but with a significant increase in many cost categories (transport, testing and outpatient) in Tanzania than in Kenya. A significant increase in productivity loss was observed in both countries. The minimal cost increases in Kenya may be due to the inaccessibility of services associated with lockdown measures and higher insurance coverage compared with Tanzania. Pandemic preparedness initiatives and interventions are needed to safeguard the welfare of patients with chronic conditions during pandemics.