Cost-Effectiveness of Bariatric Surgery for the Treatment of Obesity: A Cost-Utility Analysis at International Metabolic and Bariatric Centre.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery in comparison to conservative treatment options in managing obesity and its secondary complications.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Bariatric Surgery, International Metabolic and Bariatric Centre, Afridi Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from August 2019 to June 2024.

METHODOLOGY

Patients undergoing bariatric surgeries including gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy were included in the surgical group; those getting routine medical care for obesity during the same time period were included in the non-surgical group. Data on preoperative and postoperative medical expenses for the surgery cohort was taken from medical records and hospital billing systems during a five-year period. Frequencies and percentages for categorical variables and mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables in both groups were calculated as part of the descriptive analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 5,743 patients who underwent bariatric surgery were included in the study. The average cost of bariatric surgery, including preoperative treatment and postoperative follow-up, was PKR 670,000 per person. Over a five-year period, this cost increased to PKR 904,290. On the other hand, the non-surgical group's average five-year total cost for managing obesity-related comorbidities was PKR 1,797,988.

CONCLUSION

Bariatric surgery is a cost-effective intervention in managing obesity and its associated complications in the long term as compared to conventional treatment options and provides an increase in the healthcare cost reduction and enhances health status, higher quality of life, and increased QALYs.

KEY WORDS

Bariatric surgery, Cost-effectiveness, Cost-utility analysis.