GUILDFORD, England,
February 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
- Almost a million serious medical complications could be
avoided, potentially avoiding billions in future NHS
costs(1) -
Sanofi, Diabetes UK and JDRF today announce the publication of
IMPACT 2 in the journal Diabetic Medicine. This new study
shows that, if sustained, even modest improvement in blood
glucose(*) levels can provide significantly improved outcomes for
the 3.5 million(2) people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK. As a
result, if applied to the whole diabetes population, almost a
million serious medical complications, such as blindness,
amputation and kidney failure could be avoided over 25 years,
improving the lives of people with diabetes.(1) Better management
of blood glucose levels over the same period could equate to a cost
avoidance of £5.5 billion for the NHS.(1)
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IMPACT 2 is a study based on data and population modelling. It
is the outcome of a collaboration between Diabetes UK, JDRF and
Sanofi, and the analysis was completed by IMS and the York Health
Economics Consortium. It quantifies the patient and financial
benefit over 25 years of earlier intervention for better
controlling blood glucose. The findings highlight results that
could have a significant impact for people with diabetes and NHS
budgets:(1)
- For people with Type 2 diabetes the figure of potentially
preventable complications is 870,000 equating to a cost avoidance
of £4.5 billion over 25 years for the NHS.
- For people with Type 1 diabetes the figure of potentially
preventable complications is 88,000 equating to a cost avoidance of
just under £1 billion over 25 years for the NHS.
Chris Askew, Diabetes UK Chief
Executive commented, "IMPACT 2 demonstrates that even small
improvements in blood glucose levels can result in huge benefits
for people with diabetes with the potential to stop 23,000 people
suffering severe kidney failure, almost 160,000 leg ulcers and
amputations and over 50,000 people suffering severe loss of vision.
This should be a priority for all those involved in providing care
for people with diabetes." He continued, "Preventing Type 2
diabetes through public health initiatives is of course the best
way of reducing spend long-term, however much greater efforts are
needed to ensure all people with diabetes get the support and care
they need for a good quality of life and better health
outcomes."
Karen Addington, Chief Executive
of JDRF in the UK, agreed, adding, "People with Type 1 diabetes are
routinely still receiving poorer care and are less likely to be
meeting NICE recommended blood glucose targets, when compared to
people with Type 2 diabetes. The IMPACT 2 results show the benefit
to people living with Type 1 diabetes and the NHS in providing
appropriate care, support and education to help people manage their
condition."
The report is published against a backdrop of blood glucose
management in the UK being amongst the worst in Europe and around two thirds of all people
with diabetes in England not
achieving the treatment targets recommended by National Institute
for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).(3,4) In addition, despite
well-documented benefits of reducing complications through timely
control of blood glucose, levels are too high before additional
interventions are provided. On average, people in the UK with Type
2 diabetes have the highest blood glucose levels (HbA1c 9.8%) when
compared to nine other developed countries, at the point of insulin
initiation.(4)
"The scale of the findings have important implications for
clinical practice in the NHS. In a cost- constrained healthcare
system, interventions, medical or otherwise, will always be
required to justify any improvement in patient outcome against
cost. For the first time clinicians have clear evidence of the
reduction in spending that could be conferred by reducing serious
diabetes related complications through better blood glucose
control," says Professor Steve Bain,
Professor in Medicine (Diabetes), University of Swansea.
NHS spend on diabetes is already considerable and on the
increase. IMPACT 1 showed that diabetes costs the NHS £10 billion
each year - around £1 million an hour - which is about 10% of the
entire NHS budget.(5) Nearly 80% of these costs are attributable to
treating avoidable complications, which could potentially be
reduced through better management of diabetes, including improved
blood glucose control.(3) Diabetes is now the leading preventable
cause of sight loss in people of working age in the UK and 135
amputations are carried out every week as a result of poor
management of the condition.(2,6)
"Diabetes is a major healthcare problem with a large and
increasing number of people in the UK suffering from avoidable
microvascular complications such as kidney disease and foot
amputations because their blood glucose levels are too high. IMPACT
2 quantifies the reduction in the number of complications, and the
potential cost avoidance if modest improvements to patients' blood
glucose levels were made. There is the potential to generate real
improvements in outcomes for patients with diabetes by making even
small but sustained improvements in their blood glucose levels,"
explains Dr Mike Baxter, Consultant
Advisor to Sanofi Diabetes and lead author of the study.
Diabetes in the UK
There are 3.5 million people in the UK currently diagnosed with
diabetes and if current trends continue, approximately five million
people will have diabetes by 2025.(2) It is predicted that 11.9
million people in the UK are at risk of Type 2 diabetes.(2)
Additionally, it is believed that there are approximately 549,000
people in the UK who have Type 2 diabetes but do not know it as
they have not yet been diagnosed.(2) The estimated split between
people with Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes is 90:10.(2)
Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the
blood because the body cannot use it properly. If not managed well,
both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating
complications. Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable sight
loss in people of working age in the UK and is a major cause of
lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.(2)
People with Type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin.(2) Type 1
diabetes is treated by daily insulin doses - taken either by
injections or via an insulin pump - a healthy diet and regular
physical activity.
People with Type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin or the
insulin they produce isn't being used properly (known as insulin
resistance). Type 2 diabetes occurs because family history, age,
ethnic background and lifestyle factors put someone at increased
risk. The most potent risk factor for Type 2 diabetes is
obesity.(2) Type 2 diabetes is initially treated with a healthy
diet and increased physical activity. Over time, tablets
and/or insulin may be required.
About IMPACT 2
IMPACT 2 is a collaboration between Diabetes UK, JDRF and
Sanofi, and the analysis was completed by IMS and the York Health
Economics Consortium. The data from IMPACT 2 builds upon the IMPACT
1 report (published in 2012) and is published in Diabetic Medicine
as Estimating the impact of better management of glycaemic control
in adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes on the number of clinical
complications and the associated financial benefit.(1)
The IMPACT 2 study used the IMS Core Diabetes Model - a
simulation model that predicts long- term health outcomes and costs
associated with the management of diabetes - to estimate the
complications reduced and potential for financial saving, over a
25-year period when improving blood glucose control by set values
for people with diabetes. The model used real world patient data to
ensure that the estimates were as representative of the UK clinical
practice as possible.(1)
The IMPACT 2 model estimates the impact of improvements in blood
glucose control on complications and direct healthcare costs in
patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and does not make
allowances for the cost of delivering the necessary interventions
in order to achieve that tighter blood glucose control. Therefore
the potential savings in real terms would be dependent on the costs
of implementing programmes or interventions to achieve tighter
blood glucose control and would depend on the nature and level of
those interventions.
IMPACT 2 only evaluates the benefits of improved blood glucose
management. Better cholesterol and blood pressure management would
also result in substantial additional benefits for people with
diabetes and the NHS.(7)
About Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK is the leading UK charity that cares for, connects
with and campaigns on behalf of all people affected by and at risk
of diabetes. For more information on all aspects of diabetes and
access to Diabetes UK activities and services, visit
http://www.diabetes.org.uk. For more information on reporting on
diabetes, download our journalists' guide:
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/journalists-guide
About JDRF
JDRF exists to find the cure for Type 1 diabetes and its
complications, and is the world's leading charitable funder of Type
1 diabetes research. At a global level JDRF volunteers and staff
have been responsible for raising over £1 billion to support Type 1
diabetes research since the charity's inception.
http://www.jdrf.org.uk
About Sanofi Diabetes
Sanofi Diabetes strives to help people manage the complex
challenge of diabetes by delivering innovative, integrated and
personalised solutions. Driven by valuable insights that come from
listening to and engaging with people living with diabetes, the
Company is forming partnerships to offer diagnostics, therapies,
services and devices, including blood glucose monitoring
systems.
Sanofi markets both injectable and oral medications for people
with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and
distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs.
Sanofi has core strengths in diabetes solutions, human vaccines,
innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal
health and Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
References
* The term blood glucose refers to the glucose that is
transported through the bloodstream supplying energy to all the
cells in the body. Blood glucose is not derived entirely from
sugars but also from the carbohydrates in food. This is why it is
advised that the term blood glucose is used instead of blood
sugar.
* Modelling for the Impact II study was based on statistics
available at the time of analysis (2014)
The Impact Diabetes programme has been developed in partnership
with Diabetes UK, JDRF, and Sanofi Diabetes and is funded by
Sanofi.
1. Baxter et al, Estimating the impact of better management of
glycaemic control in adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes on the
number of clinical complications and the associated financial
benefit. Diabetic Medicine. (Accepted for publication)
2. Diabetes UK Facts and Stats. 2015. Available at:
https://http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Position%20statements/Diabetes%20UK%20Facts%20and%20Stats_Dec%202015.pdf
[Accessed January 2016]
3. Diabetes UK. State of the Nation: Challenges for 2015 and
beyond. Available at:
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/About%20Us/What%20we%20say/State%20of%20the%20nation%202014.pdf
[Accessed January 2016]
4. Khunti K et al. Study of Once Daily Levemir (SOLVETM)
insights into the timing of insulin initiation in people with
poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes in routine clinical practice.
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (2012)
5. Hex et al. Estimating the current and future costs of Type 1
and Type 2 diabetes in the UK, including direct health costs and
indirect societal and productivity costs. Diabetic Medicine
(2012).
6. Public Health England Diabetes Foot Activity Profiles.
Available at:
http://www.yhpho.org.uk/diabetesprofilesfoot/default.aspx [Accessed
January 2016]
7. Committee of Public Accounts. Department of Health: The
management of adult diabetes services in the NHS. 2012. Available
at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmpubacc/289/289.pdf
[Accessed January 2016]
Date: January 2016
Job Bag: SAGB.DIA.14.08.0347e