Carlsson H, Gralén K, Fridhammar A, Persson S

Samhällsekonomiska kostnader kopplade till typ 1-diabetes i Sverige år 2023

The report is written in Swedish with a summary in English

What is this report about?

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong chronic disease that typically begins in childhood and requires extensive self-care throughout life. The disease places a significant burden on those affected, their families, and society at large. Despite this, there are relatively few studies that estimate the specific costs associated with type 1 diabetes, particularly in a Swedish context. The aim of this study was therefore to calculate the societal costs related to type 1 diabetes in Sweden for the year 2023.

How were the analyses conducted?

The analysis was carried out in two steps. In the first step, the costs associated with type 1 diabetes as a specific diagnosis were estimated. These included costs for healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, support resources in schools and preschools, as well as productivity losses, both for individuals with the disease and for parents of children with type 1 diabetes. In the second step, costs related to complications linked to type 1 diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, and other long-term consequences, were estimated. To determine what proportion of these costs could be attributed to type 1 diabetes, so-called attribution factors were used. These were applied to existing cost data from other studies or to specially developed cost estimates.

What do the results show?

The results show that type 1 diabetes entails substantial societal costs in Sweden. For the year 2023, the total costs were estimated at SEK 12.9 billion. Of this, SEK 8.6 billion were direct costs related to the disease itself, while SEK 4.3 billion were related to complications. The largest cost components were medical devices, productivity losses due to illness, and support resources in schools and preschools. Total productivity losses, including those affecting parents, amounted to SEK 2.8 billion. Among the complications, cardiovascular disease accounted for the largest share of costs. Overall, the study demonstrates that type 1 diabetes impacts many areas of society and that the associated costs are both extensive and complex. The results highlight the need for effective treatment strategies, preventive measures against complications, and supportive societal interventions to reduce the economic burden in the future.

IHE RAPPORT 2025:15, IHE: Lund, Sweden