Economic Burden

Direct medical costs related to peripheral neuropathy includes costs for diagnostic procedures (EDx, blood, genetic tests, etc), prescription medications (especially for pain medication), rehabilitation costs (physical and occupational therapy and bracing), and costs for complications related to peripheral neuropathy like fractures, non-healing wounds, etc. According to a commercial claims database, there was a 46% increase in the annual cost per patient associated with visits to hospitals, emergency departments, doctors' offices and pharmacy claims after diabetic peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed. The greatest cost increase was associated with hospitalization.1

In 2013, mean hospital charges for discharges associated with peripheral neuropathy were $50,500 for an average stay of 5.8 days. Hospital charges, which totaled $54.4 billion, are not the actual cost due to differences in payment structures, plus the additional cost of professional fees and associated treatments noted above. In addition, nearly half (48%) of hospital discharges were discharged to additional care such as inpatient rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities. Patients initially seen in an emergency department were, more often than not (61%), admitted to the hospital. (Reference Table 6B.2.1 PDF [1] CSV  [2]and Table 6B.2.2 PDF [3] CSV [4])

• 1. Mehra M, Merchant S, Gupta S, Potiuri RC. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy: Resource utilization and burden of illness. J Med Econ 2014;17(9):637-45.