OBJECTIVES

To Determine the direct cost and some clinical outcomes associated with bariatric surgery, of patients affiliated in 15 branch offices of a health insurer in Colombia

METHODOLOGY

A retrospective study of 2677 patients, who received bariatric surgery, between January 2011 and November 2019 was conducted. The average annual costs were adjusted for the value of inflation in 2019 year; and outcomes of weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were estimated.

RESULTS

• The branch offices with the highest population were Bogotá, Medellín and Barranquilla, with 22.3%, 12.2%, 12.1% respectively.
• The average number of patients operated per year was 297 with a standard deviation (SD) of +/- 23; 77.8% were women.
• The average age of the procedure was 42 years (SD +/- 10); with an average weight of 112 (SD +/- 19) and average BMI of 43 (SD +/- 5).
• No clinical data were found after surgery from 6% of the population.
• 99% have suffered weight loss; and this has been 20-40 kg in more than 50% of the population.
• Currently, 9% have normal weight, 35% are in overweight and 56% have some degree of obesity.
• The average cost per patient of the bariatric surgical procedure was $4,152 USD. The average cost per patient of the other services required for the management of obesity was $407 USD; These costs were adjusted to the value of inflation in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

• The average cost of a patient who is operated with bariatric surgery and the additional managements required, corresponds to $4559 USD, adjusted to the value of inflation 2019 year.
• The relation between men and women to bariatric surgery was approximately 1:4.
• Weight loss was concentrated in 20-40 kg in more than 50% of the population.
• Other clinical outcomes secondaries to bariatric surgery should been evaluated in future research studies.