Costs of metabolic syndrome‐related diseases induced by obesity in Taiwan

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to estimate the cost of obesity's contribution to the metabolic syndrome diseases in Taiwan. We used individual data from the Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Two-Township Study survey and medical use and expenditures data from the Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI) of Taiwan. By adopting the prevalence-based and population attributable risk (PAR) approaches, direct costs of obesity for six kinds of obesity related metabolic syndrome diseases have been estimated. Comorbidities used in our analysis included ischemic heart diseases, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease accident, diabetes, hyper-cholesterolaemia and hypertension. The results indicate that overweight and obesity are associated with a higher prevalence and costs of the metabolic syndrome related diseases. PAR increases as the obese [body mass index (BMI)] prevalence increases. About 4-9% of the costs of those diseases can be attributed to overweight (24 < or = BMI < 27) and about 7-13% and 8-19% of such costs are attributable to the first and second degree obesity (27 < or = BMI < 30 and BMI > or = 30). The cost of obesity derived from the PAR and medical costs of metabolic syndrome diseases accounts for 2.9% of the national total healthcare expenditure. We therefore conclude that overweight and obesity have increased health costs and resulted in higher prevalence of and greater costs from metabolic syndrome related diseases in Taiwan. These findings provide important support for implementing obesity prevention programs in Taiwan.

Robot-assisted renal transplantation in the retroperitoneum

“…Actually, the prevalence of obesity varied among regions in the world; the incidences of obesity in patients of eastern countries were much lower than those in the western [16][17][18][19]. Patients without morbid obesity deserve well of minimally invasive renal transplantation in the retroperitoneum, where the risk of percutaneous renal biopsy was minimal [20,21].…”

“…The patient was then placed in the reverse Trendelenburg position by 15 degrees and tilted [15][16][17][18][19][20] degrees to the left (or right) to elevate the operation side. The dVss was then placed to the patient's right side and docked into position; accessibility to the operation field by the assistant surgeon, who stood between the legs of the patient, was thus well preserved.…”

The Age‐ and Sex‐specific Incidence and Medical Expenses of Heart Failure Hospitalization in 2005 in Taiwan: A Study Using Data From the National Health Insurance

“…The NHI covered 98.0% of the total population, and more than 90% of the medical institutes were contracted to the Bureau of NHI for providing healthcare services (those not contracted provided fewer services) in 2005 9 . For each admission, computerized data of medical expenses, dates of admission and discharge, identification number, sex, birth date, and diagnostic codes based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) were available.…”

Body mass index modulates the association between CDKAL1 rs10946398 variant and type 2 diabetes among Taiwanese women

“…Based on the criteria defined by the Department of Health, a BMI of 18.5–23.9 kg/m 2 indicates normal weight, 24–26.9 kg/m 2 indicates overweight while ≥27 kg/m 2 indicates obesity 27 . The cut-point for T2D risk in different Asian populations varies from 22–25 kg/m 2 .…”