Impact of Metabolic Surgery on Cost and Long-Term Health Outcome: A Cost-Effectiveness Approach

Abstract

Abstract Background The increase in obesity has become a major public health concern. Morbid obesity is associated with co-morbidities, reduced quality-of-life, and death. Metabolic surgery (MS) is the most effective treatment for obesity. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs and outcomes of MS compared with no surgery in patients with a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. Setting Health care system, Austria Methods A total of 177 patients who underwent MS were documented retrospectively, based on the hospital records of 2 specialized centers in Austria, over a 1-year period. At baseline 26.0% of patients exhibited type 2 diabetes (T2D), 52.5% cardiovascular disease (CVD), 23.2% hyperlipidemia, and 23.7% depression. Following the observation period, a Markov chain simulation model was developed to analyze the long-term consequences of T2D, including diabetic complications, CVD, hyperlipidemia, depression, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), myocardial infarction, and stroke, over a total of 20 years. Direct medical costs were expressed in 2017 euros from the payer’s perspective. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), life years (LYs), and costs were discounted. Results MS led to costs of €40,427 and 9.58 QALYs (15.58 LYs) per patient over 20 years. No MS was associated with €64,819 and 6.33 QALYs (13.92 LYs). Total cost-savings amounted to €24,392, which offset the cost of the procedure including re-operations. Over 20 years MS saved –6.7 patient-years per patient with T2D, –5.8 patient-years with CVD, –1.5 patient-years with hyperlipidemia, –1.8 patient-years with depression, and –3.8 patient-years with NASH. Conclusion MS is associated with substantial savings in long-term costs, expected health benefits, and reduced onset of complications. MS significantly increases quality of life.