San Diego-based Dexcom published its study in Diabetes Therapy. It’s titled “Cost-Effectiveness of a Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System Versus Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in People with Type 2 Diabetes on Insulin Therapy in the UK.”
The study produced a long-term health economic analysis using the IQVIA CORE Diabetes Model. This allows the calculation of long-term outcomes based on the best data currently available. It establishes the cost-effectiveness for funding Dexcom rtCGM technology against testing with fingerprints.
According to Dexcom, the analysis suggests that rtCGM use results in significant improvements in HbA1c. It also demonstrated reductions in long-term diabetes-related complications and emergency department visits.
“As healthcare technology – such as Dexcom’s rtCGM Systems – continue to evolve, policymakers have a tremendous opportunity to re-evaluate the standard of care offered to the diabetes community,” said Ben Byrne, country director of UK & Ireland at Dexcom. “Dexcom rtCGM has enormous value, not only in how it can improve quality of life for people managing diabetes, but also because it is likely to save the NHS money.”
Details from the Dexcom study
Key findings included a 70% probability of rtCGM representing a cost-effective option to the NHS compared to fingersticks. The company also observed a 38.7% probability of cost savings for the NHS with rtCGM. The study based this on a willingness-to-pay threshold of £20,000 per quality-adjusted life year.
Additionally, the study associated rtCGM with 0.731 more quality-adjusted life years (QALY). That means the intervention can lengthen and/or improve lives. The study also observed an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £3,684 per QALY versus fingersticks.
Patients’ average HbA1c in the study after 12 months of follow-up came in at 8.27%. In the rtCGM group, HbA1c went down by 0.56%. Dexcom observed zero hospitalization events after 12 months.
This analysis piggybacks on previous research that proved Dexcom technology was cost-effective for people with type 1 diabetes in the UK in 2020.
“Our recent analysis clearly adds to the evidence that rtCGM is not only a highly cost-effective intervention for people with diabetes compared to finger pricking but is also likely to be cost saving,” said Byrne. “Given these findings, and with diabetes being so costly to healthcare providers in the UK, we need to take action and mandate more effective glucose monitoring consistently across the NHS and in the UK.”
