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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Does high BMI influence hospital charges in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy?

Olubukola O Nafiu1, Wilson T Chimbira, Susan J Woolford

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. onafiu@med.umich.edu

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|April 19, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Obese children undergoing adenotonsillectomy (AT) incur higher hospital costs and longer stays. These findings on pediatric obesity and healthcare charges suggest broader economic impacts.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Health Economics
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Obesity is a prevalent chronic condition with significant health and economic consequences.
  • Existing data indicate obesity's substantial impact on the US economy, particularly in adult and nonsurgical pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and hospital charges in pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy (AT).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of electronic anesthesia records and billing data from a tertiary institution.
  • Inclusion of children aged 3-18 years who underwent AT between 2005-2007.
  • Primary outcome measures included total hospital charges, admission rates, and length of hospital stay (LOS).

Main Results:

  • Obese and overweight children were more likely to be admitted post-AT compared to normal-weight peers.
  • A positive correlation was observed between BMI and LOS among admitted patients.
  • Overweight and obese children incurred significantly higher total hospital charges, including anesthesia, PACU, and pharmacy/laboratory costs.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric patients who are overweight or obese undergoing AT experience increased hospital charges and longer postoperative LOS.
  • These findings, if applicable to other surgical procedures, may have significant implications for the overall US economy.
Abstract

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