Economic burden of cardiovascular disease associated with excess body weight in U.S. adults.
BACKGROUND
Excess body weight (EBW), which continues to become more prevalent, is a clear contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death and disability among U.S. adults. Information on the economic impact of CVD associated with EBW is lacking, however.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the direct medical costs of CVD associated with EBW.


METHODS
We conducted a population-based analysis of direct medical costs by linking the 1995 National Health Interview Survey and the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The study subjects are adults (aged > or =25 years, excluding pregnant women) in the non-institutionalized, civilian population in 1996.


RESULTS
The prevalence of CVD among people in the normal weight (body mass index [BMI] > or =18.5 to <25), overweight (BMI > or =25 to <30), and obese (BMI > or =30) groups was 20%, 28%, and 39%, respectively. There were 12.95 million CVD cases among overweight people, more than 25% of which was associated with overweight. There were 9.3 million CVD cases among obese people, of which more than 45% was associated with obesity. This extra disease burden led to $22.17 billion in direct medical costs in 1996 ($31 billion in 2001 dollars, 17% of the total direct medical cost of treating CVD).


CONCLUSIONS
The strong positive association between EBW and CVD, and the significant economic impact of EBW-associated CVD demonstrate the need to prevent EBW among U.S. adults.
Wang
Guijing
G
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. gbw9@cdc.gov
Zheng
Zhi-Jie
ZJ
Heath
Gregory
G
Macera
Carol
C
Pratt
Mike
M
Buchner
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D014481:United States