Healthcare and non-healthcare costs: youth with diabetes and food insecurity.

Abstract

Introduction: This study prospectively evaluated the association of household food insecurity and acute care costs and productivity loss in youth and young adults (YYA) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This observational cohort study included 1,256 YYA with type 1 and type 2 diabetes from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Food Security Study with data collected at three time points between 2015-2022. Both household food insecurity (HFI, measured using the US Household Food Security Survey Module) and costs (measured using survey responses on utilization and productivity losses) were self-reported by young adult participants or caregivers of adolescents. The relationship between HFI and costs was analyzed using generalized adjusted linear regression. We also analyzed the moderating role of continuous health insurance coverage.

Results: Each additional 1-point increase in the HFI score was associated with a $1,077 (95%CI= [663, 1,491]) increase in measured 12-month costs. Costs were $4,384 (95%CI=[2,635, 6,133]) higher in households that were experiencing HFI versus those who were not. Youth and young adults with continuous health insurance coverage saw smaller increases in costs ($864, 95%CI=[461, 1,267]) compared to those without continuous coverage ($1,820, 95%CI=[379, 3,261]).

Conclusions: This study found a positive association between HFI and costs for YYA with diabetes, and this relationship was modified by continuous health insurance coverage. Future work should use linked claims and electronic health record data to better inform efforts aiming to reduce HFI burden and improve the continuity of insurance coverage for this population.