Costs and usage of healthcare services before and after open bariatric surgery / Custos e utilização de serviços de saúde antes e após a cirurgia bariátrica por laparotomia

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Morbidly obese individuals are major consumers of healthcare services, with high associated costs. Bariatric surgery is an alternative for improving these individuals' comorbidities. There are no studies comparing costs before and after bariatric surgery in Brazil. The aim here was to analyze results relating to healthcare usage and direct costs among morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. DESIGN AND SETTING: Historical cohort study on patients receiving healthcare through a private health plan in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. METHODS: All healthcare services and their associated costs were included in the analysis: hospitalization, hospital stay, elective outpatient consultations, emergency service usage and examinations. The analyses were treated as total when including the whole years before and after surgery, or partial when excluding the three-month periods adjacent to the operation. RESULTS: For 382 obese patients who underwent open bariatric operations, there were 53 hospitalizations one year before and 95 one year after surgery (P = 0.013). Gastrointestinal complications were the main indications for post-procedure hospitalizations. The partial average cost almost doubled after the operation (US$ 391.96 versus US$ 678.31). In subgroup analysis, the costs from patients with gastrointestinal complications were almost four times greater after bariatric surgery. Even in the subgroup without complications, the partial average cost remained significantly higher. CONCLUSION: Although bariatric surgery is the only path towards sustained weight loss for morbidly obese patients, the direct costs over the first year after the procedure are greater. Further studies, with longer follow-up, might elucidate whether long-term reversal of this trend would occur.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Indivíduos obesos mórbidos são grandes consumidores de serviços de saúde, com altos custos associados. A cirurgia bariátrica é uma alternativa para melhorar suas comorbidades. Não existem estudos comparando custos antes e após a cirurgia bariátrica no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os resultados assistenciais e gastos diretos de pacientes obesos mórbidos submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Coorte histórica de pacientes assistidos por um plano de saúde na cidade de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos na análise todos os serviços de saúde e seus custos associados: hospitalizações, permanência hospitalar, consultas eletivas e de emergência e exames. A análise foi tratada como total quando incluía todo o ano anterior e posterior à cirurgia, e parcial quando excluía os trimestres adjacentes à cirurgia. RESULTADOS: Para 382 pacientes obesos operados, houve 53 internações um ano antes e 95 um ano após a cirurgia (P = 0,013). As principais indicações para internação pós-procedimento foram complicações relacionadas ao trato gastrointestinal. O custo parcial médio quase dobrou no período pós-operatório (US$ 391,96 versus US$ 678,31). Em análise de subgrupo, pacientes com complicações do trato gastrointestinal apresentaram custos quase quatro vezes maiores no período pós-bariátrica, e mesmo no subgrupo sem estas complicações, o custo parcial médio permaneceu significativamente maior. CONCLUSÃO: Embora a cirurgia bariátrica seja o único caminho para perda de peso sustentada nos pacientes obesos mórbidos, os custos diretos até um ano pós-procedimento são maiores. Novos estudos, com maior tempo de acompanhamento, poderão verificar se essa tendência se reverte no longo prazo.

Influencia de la obesidad en los costos en salud y en el ausentismo laboral de causa médica en una cohorte de trabajadores / Influence of obesity on health care costs and absenteeism among employees of a mining company

Background: The health associated costs of obesity can represent between 2 percent and 9 percent of the total health costs of a given country. Aim: To assess the impact of obesity on health care costs and absenteeism in a cohort of mine workers. Patients and wethods: Prospective study of 4.673 men, employees of a mining company, aged 49 ± 7 years that were followed for 24 ± 11 months. Total health care cost and days of sick leave were recordedfor each individual. The association between obesity and these variables was analyzed by logistic regression adjusting for co-morbidities, age and other variables. Results: Mean annual health care costs for obese workers were 17 percent higher (p <0.001) compared to workers with normal weight and 58 percent higher (p <0.001) for workers with severe and morbid obesity. Mean annual days of sick leave increased by 25 percento in the obese (p =0.002) and by 57 percento in subjects with severe and morbid obesity (p <0.001). For health care costs the most significant predictors were: presence of diabetes mellitus (Odds ratio (OR) 6.21, 95 percento confidence intervals (95 percent CI) 4.9 to 7.9), hypertension (OR 3-99; 95 percent CI3-4 to 4.6) and severe and morbid obesity (OR 2.55, 95 percento CI 1.9 to 3-4). For absenteeism the most significant predictors were: presence of diabetes mellitus (OR 1.58, 95 percent> CI 1.2 to 2.0), hypertension (OR 1,34, 95 percent> CI 1.2 to 1.6) and severe and morbid obesity (OR 1.50, 95 percento CI 1.1 to 2.1). Conclusions: Obesity increases significantly health care costs and absenteeism.