Pharmaceutical savings after gastric bypass surgery.
BACKGROUND
Clinically severe obesity (CSO) is a surgically treated disease. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) has been used to treat patients with CSO and has resulted in an improvement in co-morbidities. We speculated that after a period of weight loss, patients would require less medication, resulting in cost-savings to both the patient and the insurance company, as well as an overall gain in health.


METHODS
A retrospective study was performed which involved the first 100 patients who had undergone RYGBP at a community-teaching hospital. Analysis of the data was conducted by the Wilcoxon signed rank test.


RESULTS
64 patients met our inclusion criteria and had adequate follow-up data available. The mean BMI was 57 kg/m(2) (range 36.6- 85.4 kg/m(2)), the female to male ratio was 4:1 (51:13), and the mean age was 44 years (range 27-64). The average monthly medication expenditure was reduced from US dollars 317 (SEM 47.25, range US dollars 23.12-US dollars 1801.19) preoperatively, to US dollars 135 (SEM 35.35, range US dollars 0.00-US dollars 1122.72) postoperatively. This reduction is significant (P <0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Weight loss after RYGBP leads to a significant reduction in medication expenses. These medication savings offset the costs of the initial procedure and represent permanent financial savings for the patient and society.
Monk
John S
JS
Department of Surgery, York Hospital, York, PA 17405, USA. jmonk@wellspan.org
Dia Nagib
Nancy
N
Stehr
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D011306:Prescription Fees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy