Economic Issues in Pancreas Transplantation

Worldwide, diabetes mellitus is one of the most common public health concerns. In the United States alone, it affects some 16 million people or 6% of the population. About 700,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.1 Diabetes mellitus is the seventh leading cause of death, but on death certificates, it is believed to be underreported, both as a condition and as a cause of death. In 1997, according to the American Diabetes Association, 159,719 deaths were attributed to diabetes, representing a loss of 2.0 million years of life.2