A retrospective observational population‐based study to assess the prevalence and burden of illness of type 2 diabetes with an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) in Ontario, Canada

AIM: To better understand the healthcare burden of people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) in Ontario, Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used administrative data to evaluate the prevalence of T2D, eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and adverse cardiovascular co‐morbidities in individuals aged ≥ 30 years living in Ontario, Canada. We also examined incremental healthcare costs and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) for these patients with specific incident cardiovascular and renal outcomes, in comparison with controls without these outcomes. RESULTS: While the prevalence of T2D in the general population aged ≥ 30 years in Ontario increased by 1.8% over a 5‐year period (2011‐2012 to 2015‐2016), the prevalence of eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) among people with T2D increased by 35%. In comparison with corresponding controls without these outcomes, the per patient average total costs (Canadian dollars) over a 2‐year analysis period were higher for patients with cardiovascular disease/chronic kidney disease related death ($69 827; n = 32 407), doubling of serum creatinine ($52 260; n = 22 825), those who started dialysis ($150 627; n = 3499) or received a kidney transplant ($50 664; n = 651). Similarly, HCRU was significantly greater for patients with these incident outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This real‐world retrospective study highlights an increasing prevalence of T2D, eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m(2), and the substantially higher healthcare costs and HCRU when these patients have adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes. The existence of such a large economic burden underpins the importance of preventing these diabetes‐related complications.