Economic evaluation of outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus assisted by a pharmaceutical care service.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the costs related to visits and drug prescription in outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus assisted by a pharmaceutical care service. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A prospective and experimental study was carried out. Seventy one patients were divided into two groups: control and pharmaceutical care. Patients in the pharmaceutical care group were followed up monthly by a single clinical pharmacist. RESULTS The pharmaceutical care group had a statistically significant reduction in costs of metformin and emergency department visits, and increased costs with their family physicians. On the other hand, the control group had a statistically significant increase of 21.3% in the general costs of treatment and visits. CONCLUSION The pharmaceutical care group maintained the same costs related to drugs and visits, while the control group showed a significant increase in general costs.