Health insurance claims data as a means of assessing reduction in co-morbidities 6 months after bariatric surgery

We measured the very short-term change in obesity-related co-morbidities following bariatric surgery. Claims data were analyzed for 933 patients aged 18-62 who were covered by one of 11 New York State health plans and underwent bariatric surgery during calendar year 2002. Data covered 6 months befor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Obesity surgery 2006-07, Vol.16 (7), p.852-858
Main Authors: Cawley, John, Prinz, Timothy, Beane, Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bariatric Surgery - economics
Comorbidity - trends
Diabetes
Female
Gastrointestinal surgery
Humans
Insurance, Health
Male
Medicare
Middle Aged
New York
Obesity
Obesity, Morbid - epidemiology
Obesity, Morbid - surgery
Postoperative Period
Regression Analysis
Sleep apnea
United States
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Summary:We measured the very short-term change in obesity-related co-morbidities following bariatric surgery. Claims data were analyzed for 933 patients aged 18-62 who were covered by one of 11 New York State health plans and underwent bariatric surgery during calendar year 2002. Data covered 6 months before to 6 months after surgery. Logit regression and fixed effects logit regressions were estimated, to analyze change in the following co-morbidities after bariatric surgery: diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, asthma, sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease, gastroesophageal reflux, and depression. There were statistically significant post-surgery decreases in each outcome studied. Controlling for individual fixed effects, the probability of a diabetes diagnosis fell by 20% after bariatric surgery. The probability of sleep apnea fell by 33%, and the probability of the other obesity-related co-morbidities fell by 11 to 19% at 6 months. Claims data are useful for assessing changes in a wide range of co-morbidities following bariatric surgery. The data indicate significant decreases in obesity-related co-morbidities after bariatric surgery, although considerably smaller than those found in previous studies, which underscores the need for randomized controlled trials of bariatric surgery. Limitations of this study include: follow-up only at 6 months, non-experimental data, and an unknown degree of under-reporting of co-morbidities in claims data.
ISSN:0960-8923
1708-0428
DOI:10.1381/096089206777822241