Background

Obesity related diabetic complications are significantly associated with greater hospitalization costs. Bariatric surgery (BaS) is an effective treatment for obesity and long-term control of diabetic complications. This study aims to analyze the cost of diabetes-related hospitalizations in patients following BaS.

Methods

A Retrospective analysis of the National Impatient Sample data from 2010 to 2015. Patients with obesity were included and divided in treatment group: patients with history of BaS (HBS), and control group: patients with BMI ≥ 35 and without HBS. Univariate analysis was conducted to compare characteristics and outcomes between groups. Multivariate regression model was performed to assess the difference in outcomes between groups.

Results

There were a total of 31,136 patients. Treatment group had 1,999 patients with a mean age of 54.4 years and control group had 29,137 with a mean age of 56.3 years. A higher number of patients in the control group had a LOS>5 days when compared to the treatment group (43.1% vs 32.7%) p=<0.0001, as well as a significantly greater total cost ($47,648 vs $4,456) p=0.0204. Subgroup analysis of outcomes in patients with diabetes related lower extremity amputation showed that LOS was higher in the control group 9.95 + 0.10 vs 7.23 + 0.21 days in the treatment group p=<0.0001. Similarly total cost was significantly higher in the control group $78,566 vs $58,772 in the treatment group p=<0.0001.

Conclusions

Bariatric Surgery decreases LOS in patients with diabetes-related complications, and an overall lower cost of hospitalizations compared to the non-surgically treated patients.