Abstract
The extent of use of bariatric surgery and weight-loss medications is unknown. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we estimate that the number of bariatric surgeries grew 400 percent between 1998 and 2002; such surgeries were performed on 0.6 percent of the 11.5 million adults clinically eligible in 2002. Hospital costs for bariatric surgery grew sixfold to $948 million in 2002. The inpatient death rate declined 64 percent. Among employers that covered weight-loss drugs in 2002, less than 2.4 percent of adults clinically eligible for these drugs used them, with average annual spending of $304 per user.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1039-1046 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Health Affairs |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2005 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine