Cost-effectiveness of Freestyle Libre Systems for People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Basal Insulin Therapy in the Netherlands: An Economic Evaluation from a Societal Perspective Within a Publicly Funded Healthcare System

Healthcare expenditure for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Netherlands is high, mainly due to the cost of treating diabetes-related complications. Guidelines recommend sensor-based glucose monitoring systems for people living with T2DM and using insulin, but these are not reimbursed in the Netherlands for those using basal insulin only. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of glucose monitoring with FreeStyle Libre systems (FSL), compared with capillary-based self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), for people living with T2DM on basal insulin, from the perspective of the Dutch publicly funded healthcare system.

The patient-level microsimulation model DEDUCE (DEtermination of Diabetes Utilities, Costs, and Effects) was used to estimate the incidence of complications and acute diabetes events (ADEs; hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis). The effect of FSL was modeled as a 0.5% reduction in glycated hemoglobin level, which DEDUCE translates to a lower rate of complications, and as reductions in ADEs and absenteeism. Costs (in 2024 euros) and utilities were discounted at 3% and 1.5%, respectively. Outcomes were assessed as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

FSL was associated with 0.53 more QALYs than SMBG (12.77 vs. 12.24), at an additional cost of €8021. The resulting incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for FSL versus SMBG was €15,181/QALY. The increased acquisition cost of FSL (€19,738) was partially offset by reductions in costs associated with complications, ADEs, and absenteeism. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that FSL was 52% likely to be cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €20,000/QALY, and > 99% likely at thresholds ≥ €40,000/QALY. FSL had an ICER of below €50,000/QALY in all scenarios investigated.

From a Dutch publicly funded healthcare system perspective, FSL can be considered to be cost-effective compared with SMBG for people living with T2DM on basal insulin therapy.