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Clinical Trial
. 2018 May 10;13(5):e0197057.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197057. eCollection 2018.

The impact of obesity and overweight on medical expenditures and disease incidence in Korea from 2002 to 2013

Hyun Jin Song  1   2 , Jinseub Hwang  3 , Seonmi Pi  3 , Sena Ahn  1 , Yoonseok Heo  4 , Susan Park  1 , Jin-Won Kwon  1
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

The impact of obesity and overweight on medical expenditures and disease incidence in Korea from 2002 to 2013

Hyun Jin Song et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: Few studies have assessed the long-term medical costs and incidence of obesity and overweight in Asia. We evaluated the impact of body mass index (BMI) on medical expenditures and disease incidence and prevalence over more than 10 years in South Korea.

Methods: Using 2002-2013 data from the Korean National Claims Database, we analysed two population sets (initial BMI in 2002-2003; consistent BMI in 2002-2003 and 2012-2013). Obesity was defined by Asian BMI criteria. Incremental medical expenditures or Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ratios for obese compared to normal weight individuals were calculated. Medical expenditure over 11 years was estimated by BMI using a generalised linear model. Individual obesity-related disease incidence was determined and adjusted hazard ratios were calculated.

Results: Data for 496,469 and 214,477 individuals were included in the entire and consistent BMI level populations, respectively. Average CCI score change in normal weight and the obesity III (BMI 35-59.99 kg/m2) group over 11 years were 0.94 and 1.56, respectively in the entire population, and incremental ratio in the obesity III group was 66.0% compared to the normal weight group. In consistent BMI level population, incremental ratio (92.1%) for obesity III was higher than entire population. Medical costs in the obesity III groups versus the normal weight group in the entire and consistent BMI level populations increased by 38.4% and 77.1%, respectively. Over 11 years, individuals with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 in the entire and consistent BMI level populations had post-adjustment medical expenditures of 1.13-1.20 and 1.21-1.40 times the normal weight group, respectively. Incidence rate and adjusted hazard ratio of obesity-related disease increased in the obesity groups compared to the normal weight group.

Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the importance of the effective and sustainable obesity management strategies, considering the dramatic increase in obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) in South Korea.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with the NHIS with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Incremental Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score ratios and medical expenditures ratio over 11 years.
Comparison of 2002–2003 and 2012–2013 for entire population set (participants with available BMI data in 2002–2003) and consistent BMI level population set (participants who remained in their baseline BMI categories in 2012–2013) according to BMI a. Incremental CCI score ratio based on normal weight b. Incremental medical expenditure ratio based on normal weight. * Incremental CCI or medical expenditure ratio = (11-year change of each obesity level– 11-year change in normal weight) / (11-year change in normal weight) *100.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Disease incidence over 10 years (2004–2013) a. Entire population set (participants with available BMI data in 2002–2003) b. Consistent BMI level population set (participants who remained in their baseline BMI categories in 2012–2013).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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