The economic impact of surgical care for morbidly obese endometrial cancer patients: A nationwide study

Background Obesity significantly impacts the cost of cancer treatment, yet the impact of morbid obesity on inpatient hospital charges related to endometrial cancer treatment is not well-defined. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the charges that are associated with inpatient surgery, hospitalization, and postoperative care of morbidly obese patients with endometrial cancer. Study Design Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample from 2010. Chi-square test, t-test, and linear regression were used for statistical analyses. Results Six thousand five hundred sixty patients who underwent hysterectomy for endometrial cancer were identified. Mean age was 62 years (range, 22-99 years). The majority were white (78%), and the remainder were black (10%), Hispanic, (8%), Asian (3%), and Native American (1%). Insurance types were private (45%), Medicare (45%), Medicaid (5%), and uninsured (7%). One thousand eighty-eight of these patients (17%) were coded as morbidly obese. The mean postoperative stay for the morbidly obese was 4.0 days (range, 0-46 days) compared with 3.5 days (range, 0-81 days) for the non-morbidly obese patients (P \u3c.01). Morbidly obese patients required more intensive care with mechanical ventilation (5.5% vs 1.6%; P \u3c.01). The median hospital charges were higher for morbidly obese patients compared with their counterparts ($46,654 vs $41,164; P \u3c.01). After adjustment for charges that were associated with insurance type, hospital type, and the surgery that was performed, the incremental increase in hospital charges that were associated with treating the morbidly obese patient was $5096 per patient (95% confidence interval, $2593-$7598; P \u3c .01). Conclusion In this economic analysis, the health care charges that were associated with inpatient endometrial cancer treatment in the morbidly obese patient was significantly higher compared the non-morbidly obese patient. Resources are needed to support the needs of this population, and programs to encourage weight loss and optimize general health should be encouraged