Research Article Details

Article ID: A51792
PMID: 34053198
Source: Clin Obes
Title: A retrospective case-control cohort analysis of comorbidity and health expenditure in hospitalized adults diagnosed with obesity utilizing ICD-10 diagnostic coding.
Abstract: The cost and comorbidity of obesity in hospitalized inpatients, is less known. A retrospective study of patients presenting to a large district hospital in Western Sydney (April 2016-February 2017) using clinical, pathological as well as diagnostic coding data for obesity as per ICD-10. Of 43&#8201;212 consecutive hospital presentations, 390 had an obesity-coded diagnosis (Ob, 0.90%), of which 244 were gender and age-matched to a non-obesity coded cohort (NOb). Weight and BMI were higher in the Ob vs NOb group (126&#8201;&#177;&#8201;37 vs 82&#8201;&#177;&#8201;25&#8201;kg; BMI 46&#8201;&#177;&#8201;12 vs 29&#8201;&#177;&#8201;8&#160;kg/m2 , P&#160;<&#8201;.001) with a medical record documentation rate of 62% for obesity among Ob. The Ob cohort had 2-5&#215; higher rates of cardiopulmonary and metabolic complications (P&#160;<&#8201;.001), greater pharmacologic burden, length of stay (LOS, 225 vs 89&#8201;hours, P&#160;<&#8201;.001) and stay in intensive care but no differences in the prevalence of mental disorders. Compared with BMI <35&#8201;kg/m2 , inpatients with BMI >35&#8201;kg/m2 were 5&#215; more likely to require intensive care (OR 5.08 [1.43-27.3, 95% CI], P&#160;=&#8201;.0047). The initiation of obesity-specific interventions by clinical teams was very low. People with obesity who are admitted to hospital carry significant cost and complications, yet obesity is seldom recognized as a clinical entity or contributor.
DOI: 10.1111/cob.12469