OBJECTIVES: To estimate healthcare resource use (HCRU) patterns and financial burden associated with obesity-related complications (ORCs) in public and private healthcare settings in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A micro-costing approach was used to estimate HCRU and costs for ten ORCs, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), angina, hypertension, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, dyslipidemia, asthma, chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis. HCRU and unit costs were estimated for diagnostic tests/patient; scheduled outpatient visits/patient/year; treatments received; consumables or devices/patient/year; health education programs/patient/year; monitoring tests/patient/year; treatment-related side effects complications/patient/year; and inpatient procedures/patient/year. Estimated overall annual costs per patient were calculated as a weighted average of separate public and private healthcare settings costs.

RESULTS: Healthcare costs in Saudi Arabia for individuals with any ORC ranged from 2165–7558 United States dollars (US$) per year on average. Complications involving heart failure, chronic kidney disease, dyslipidemia, and T2DM were the most expensive ORCs, mainly due to monitoring and/or pharmacological treatment costs. ORCs such as asthma, hypertension, and angina, however, were the least expensive. The costs of private healthcare settings were higher compared with public healthcare settings; the largest differences (2359–2793 US$) were noted for dyslipidemia, T2DM, and osteoarthritis, mainly due to differences in pharmacological treatment costs.

CONCLUSIONS: Saudi Arabia's healthcare system is facing a considerable financial burden from obesity and ORCs. Preventing or delaying ORCs could result in substantial cost-savings for the healthcare system. Healthcare resources used to manage obesity and ORCs could be re-allocated to other healthcare priorities, resulting in improved access and quality of care for all patients. A multifaceted nationwide strategy is a priority to address both weight management and progression of existing complications in people with obesity.