The Impact of Obesity-Related Complications on Healthcare Costs - Outcomes of a Pharmacoeconomic Weight Loss Model.

PURPOSE

According to the World Health Organization European Regional Obesity Report, Turkey has the highest rate of overweight and obesity in Europe. This study used a weight loss pharmacoeconomic model to assess the influence of obesity on public health by examining its effects on private health institutions and its financial costs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A micro-costing approach was used to estimate the direct healthcare costs of 10 obesity-related comorbidities from the perspective of private healthcare providers in Turkey. A survey was conducted on a representative sample of physicians in Turkey to determine resource utilization rates for comorbidities in expenditures. The unit costs of each cost item were analyzed for type A, B, and C private hospitals. Costs in the different categories were obtained by multiplying the unit costs by the health resource utilization rate.

RESULTS

When the obesity-related complications were stratified according to weight loss rate, 5%, 10%, and 20%, a higher cost reduction was observed in the 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 age groups. It should be noted that this decrease in healthcare expenditure was detected in the older age groups (40 to 69) and not in individuals between 20 and 39 years. Another analysis of the weight loss rate revealed that the decrease was highest in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus costs. A health expenditure that costs 1 unit in a C-segment institution increases 1.44-fold in B-segment and 3-fold in A-segment hospitals. The effects of weight loss on reducing the cost of obesity-related complications indicated that the highest cost reduction was on T2DM, dyslipidemia, and CKD, respectively. Obesity-related complications constituted 28.87% of total costs in Segment A hospitals, 29.13% in Segment B hospitals, and 28.54% in Segment C hospitals.

CONCLUSION

The current pharmacoeconomic model indicated that complications were the major cost drivers in obesity. Weight loss dramatically reduced healthcare expenditures in obese patients, and T2DM was the leading cause in all age groups.