LAUSR

Purpose of ReviewTo critically assess and identify gaps in the current literature on the economic impact of diabetes in South Asia.Recent FindingsThe total annual (direct medical and non-medical and indirect) costs for diabetes care in South Asia range from $483–$2637 per patient, and on an average 5.8% of patients with diabetes suffer catastrophic spending i.e. when households reduce basic expenditure by 40% to cope with healthcare costs. The mean direct costs per patient are positively associated with a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, although there is wide heterogeneity across South Asian countries.SummaryWith an estimated 84 million people suffering from diabetes in South Asia, diabetes imposes a substantial economic burden on individuals, families, and society. Since the disease burden increasingly occurs in the most productive midlife period, it adversely affects workforce productivity and macroeconomic development. Diabetes-related complications lead to markedly higher treatment costs, causing catastrophic medical spending for many households, thus underscoring the importance of preventing diabetes-related complications.