The association between body mass index groups and metabolic comorbidities with healthcare and medication costs: a nationwide biobank and registry study in Finland.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of obesity imposes a significant cost burden on individuals and societies worldwide. OBJECTIVE: In this nationally representative study, the association between body mass index (BMI) groups and the number of metabolic comorbidities (MetC) with total direct costs was investigated in the Finnish population. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The study cohort included 5,587 adults with BMI ≥18.5 kg/m2 who participated in the cross-sectional FinHealth 2017 health examination survey conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Data on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and drug purchases were collected from national healthcare and drug registers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was total direct costs (costs of primary and secondary HCRU and prescription medications). RESULTS: Class I (BMI 30.0-34.9 kg/m2) and class II - III (BMI ≥35.0 kg/m2) obesity were associated with 43% and 40% higher age- and sex-adjusted direct costs, respectively, compared with normal weight, mainly driven by a steeply increased comorbidity in the higher BMI groups. In all BMI groups combined, individuals with ≥2 MetCs comprised 39% of the total study population and 60% of the total costs. CONCLUSION: To manage the cost burden of obesity, treatment should be given equal consideration as other chronic diseases, and BMIs ≥30.0 kg/m2 should be considered in treatment decisions.

Obesity and metabolic state are associated with increased healthcare resource and medication use and costs: a Finnish population-based study.

AIM: To characterize healthcare resource (HCRU) and medication use and associated costs in individuals with obesity compared with individuals with normal weight or overweight in a population-based cohort of Finnish adults. The association between metabolic state and direct costs was also assessed. METHODS: The study cohort included 5587 randomly selected individuals who participated in the national FinHealth 2017 health examination survey. Data on healthcare visits and hospital stays, including diagnoses (ICD-10), and purchases and costs of prescription medicines were collected from the nationwide registers by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and Social Insurance Institution of Finland. The healthcare costs were calculated based on standard unit costs reported by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. RESULTS: The total annual direct costs were €2665 (SD €5673) and €1799 (SD €3874) per person with obesity and with normal weight or overweight, respectively. Obesity was associated with significantly increased total direct (age- and sex-adjusted cost rate ratio, RR, 1.356; p < 0.001), HCRU-related (1.273; p = 0.002), and medication (1.669; p < 0.001) costs. A vast majority (90%) of individuals with obesity were classified as metabolically unhealthy based on clinical measurements. The metabolically unhealthy state was associated with increased costs in individuals with obesity but not in individuals with normal weight or overweight. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with a significant and complex direct cost burden to society, arising primarily from increased comorbidity. Metabolically healthy obesity is uncommon and obesity prevention and timely treatment should be of high priority to tackle the increasing burden of obesity.