Surgeons discuss complications, outcomes, costs associated with obesity

In a forum prior to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, orthopedic surgeons discussed the impact of increasing health care costs and treatment outcomes of obesity.

“From 1960 to 2000, the rate of obesity more than doubled in the United States,” Frank B. Kelly, MD, forum moderator, stated in an AAOS press release. “By 2010, more than 72 million of U.S. adults were obese, and no state had an obesity rate of less than 20%.”

According to the release, patients who are overweight or obese risk developing pulmonary complications, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction or wound infection after surgery. In addition, patients with complications linked to obesity, such as diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea and coronary artery disease could have an increased risk for complications following surgery.

Health care spending for obesity is also significant, according to members of the forum, increasing by $215 billion every year.

“Health care costs attributed to overweight and obesity are predicted to account for 16% to 18% of total U.S. health care costs,” by 2030, Kelly said.

Forum members suggested that a 5% to 10% weight loss in patients could have a tremendous impact. Elena Losina, PhD, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said that a patient who loses 10 pounds will relieve the load and pressure on their knees by 50 pounds.

Reference:

Kelly FB. AAOS Now Forum: Obesity, Orthopaedics, and Outcomes. March 18, 2013; Chicago.

Disclosure: Kelly is an AAOS Now Editorial Board member.