However, this may be explained by long average lengths of stay in Japan, particularly for some of the specific CVD such as stroke (OECD, 2013b). When this figure is compared to overall health expenditure from OECD Health Statistics, it shows that costs per diabetic patient are around 18% higher than health care costs for the general population. This is consistent with more detailed studies which reveal that most medical costs incurred by patients with type 2 diabetes are caused by their complications and comorbidities.