Pharmacoeconomic analysis of conservative strategy for the treatment of patients with diabetic foot syndrome in Moscow

Abstract

Aim. To perform cost-effectiveness analysis of prescription of pharmaceutical products and dressing materials and their consumption volume for inandout-patient treatment of diabetic foot syndrome (DFS). To analyse efficacy of the treatment in terms of modern therapeutic standards. Materials and methods. This retrospective study is based on the medical documentation of 139 DM1 and DM2 patients with DFS from differentmedical facilities of Moscow (2007). 72 patients were given general out-patient care by surgeons of city polyclinics, 50 ones received specialized aidin the regional Diabetic Foot Cabinet. 67 patients were hospitalized: 20 for general care in the department of purulent surgery of a military hospital,27 for specialized care in the department of purulent surgery of a city hospital, 20 for high-technology care in the endocrinological clinic of the FirstMoscow State Medical University. Results. Therapeutic strategy for DFS patients used in the regional Diabetic Foot Cabinet met the current therapeutic standards. General out-patientcare by surgeons of city polyclinics was at variance with the algorithms adopted in this country. Pharmacoeconomic analysis of the spectrum of pharmaceuticalproducts used for in- and out-patient treatment of DFS patients revealed frequent and ungrounded application of drugs whose woundhealing effect remains to be confirmed (pentoxifylline, thioctoic and alpha-lipoic acids). Conclusion. Additional training courses for surgeons of Moscow polyclinics are needed to improve the quality of medical aid to DFS patients. Suchpatients must be referred to regional Diabetic Foot Cabinets. Pentoxifylline, thioctoic and alpha-lipoic acids need to be substituted by pharmaceuticalswith validated therapeutic efficacy.

Keywords

• diabetic foot syndrome
• pharmacoeconomic analysis
• modern therapeutic standards
• pentoxifylline