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The unequal distribution of resources in society generates social gradients that translate into health inequalities and differential use of health care resources and their costs. Non-medical factors such as employment, income, ethnicity and education impact the prevalence and treatment outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, there is a scarcity of articles assessing the relationship between health inequalities and the economic costs of treatment. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of published studies examining the cost differences of treating T2DM across social determinants of health (SDH).

We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, EconLit, and NHS EED for original peer-reviewed articles that provided cost differences of treating T2DM by SDH: education, income, employment, residency and ethnicity. We grouped the studies by each SDH and calculated the percentage differences where possible between the lowest and highest ends of the gradient (education, income and employment). Residency was categorised as rural vs. urban and ethnicity as white or general population vs other ethnic minorities.

We included 19 articles retrieved internationally from varying healthcare systems. Results were contextualised given the healthcare financing model. In countries with high out-of-pocket expenses, Black and Hispanic ethnic backgrounds and rural residence were associated with lower direct health care and costs likely to be determined by ability to pay rather than clinical need. Indirect costs such as lost productivity due to absenteeism were also lower in unemployed, and lower income groups.

There are evident health disparities in the direct and indirect economic consequences of T2DM. The effect of decreased healthcare use and costs on treatment outcomes needs to be further explored to inform policies to ensure healthcare delivery is based on clinical need rather than socio-economic factors.