Background
Bariatric surgery can cause type 2 diabetes (diabetes) remission for individuals with comorbid obesity, yet utilization is <1%. Surgery eligibility is currently limited to body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2, though the American Diabetes Association recommends expansion to BMI ≥30 kg/m2.
Objective
We estimate the individual-level social benefits of diabetes remission through bariatric surgery and compare the population-level effects of expanding eligibility alone versus improving utilization for currently eligible individuals.
Methods
Using microsimulation, we quantified the net social value (difference in lifetime health/economic benefits and costs) of bariatric surgery-related diabetes remission for Americans with obesity and diabetes. We compared projected lifetime surgical outcomes to conventional management at individual and population levels for current utilization (1%) and eligibility (BMI ≥35 kg/m2) and expansions of both (>1%, and BMI ≥30 kg/m2).
Results
The per capita net social value of bariatric surgery-related diabetes remission was $264,670 (95% confidence interval: $234,527–294,814) under current and $227,114 (95% confidence interval: $205,300–248,928) under expanded eligibility, an 11.1% and 9.16% improvement over conventional management. Quality-adjusted life expectancy represented the largest gains (current: $194,706; expanded: $169,002); followed by earnings ($51,395 and $46,466), and medical savings ($41,769 and $34,866) balanced against the surgery cost ($23,200). Doubling surgical utilization for currently eligible patients provides higher population gains ($34.9B) than only expanding eligibility at current utilization ($29.0B).
Conclusions
Diabetes remission following bariatric surgery improves healthy life expectancy and provides net social benefit despite high procedural costs. Per capita benefits appear greater among currently eligible individuals. Therefore, policies that improve utilization may produce larger societal value than expanding eligibility criteria alone.
The full study is available in Annals of Surgery.