The impact of BMI on direct costs in children and adolescents: empirical findings for the German Healthcare System based on the KiGGS-study.
BACKGROUND
Childhood obesity is a growing public health burden. Among German children and adolescents, 15% are overweight (including obese) and 6.3% are obese according to a national reference. This is the first German study to assess aspects of the economic burden associated with overweight and obesity in children and adolescents based on a representative cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Based on the German Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS), direct costs induced by utilisation of healthcare services (physician and therapist visits, hospital stays) were assessed using a bottom-up approach. To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on costs, univariate analyses were performed and multivariate generalised mixed models were estimated.


RESULTS
Average annual total costs were estimated to be €442 (95% CI [402-486]). Bivariate analysis showed considerable differences between BMI groups in physician costs, but not for hospital or therapist costs. High socioeconomic status, residence in west Germany and underweight had a significant negative impact on total costs in multivariate analysis. The effect of overweight on total costs is positive but not significant; neither is the effect of obesity. However, overweight and obese children exhibit significantly higher physician costs and a higher probability of being high utilisers of healthcare services.


CONCLUSIONS
The economic implications of overweight and obesity are, to some extent, already visible in childhood. The results suggest that obese children should be classified as priority group for prevention. Despite limitations, this study provides important information concerning the relevance of childhood obesity as a health problem.
Wenig
Christina M
CM
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich School of Management, Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management and Munich Centre of Health Sciences, Ludwigstr. 28 RG, 80539 Munich, Germany. wenig@bwl.lmu.de
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000639:trends*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics*; D050177:Overweight / Q000191:economics