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Economic impact of childhood obesity on health systems: a systematic review
F Pelone1, M L Specchia, M A Veneziano
1Institute of Hygiene, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Childhood obesity incurs significant healthcare costs. This systematic review analyzed cost-of-illness studies, finding data limitations prevented comparing healthcare models for childhood obesity economic impact.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Childhood obesity (CO) presents a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems globally.
- Understanding the financial impact of CO is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the healthcare costs associated with childhood obesity (CO).
- To evaluate these costs in relation to different healthcare system models.
- To systematically review the economic impact of CO on healthcare systems.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of cost-of-illness (COI) analyses concerning children under 18 diagnosed with overweight or obesity.
- Searches conducted across major electronic scientific databases for studies published up to July 2010.
- Quality appraisal of included studies using the British Medical Journal referees' checklist.
Main Results:
- Ten COI analyses were included from an initial 3,844; two used the Beveridge model, eight used voluntary health insurance models; none used the Bismarck model.
- Inpatient, outpatient, primary care, and pharmaceutical costs were considered across the studies.
- The average quality of included analyses was medium, with significant heterogeneity observed.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity is associated with significant healthcare-related costs.
- The heterogeneity of existing studies prevents a direct comparison of healthcare models regarding the economic impact of childhood obesity.
- Further standardized research is needed to compare economic impacts across different healthcare systems.
Abstract:
The primary purpose of this study is to analyse the costs related to childhood obesity (CO) with reference to different models of healthcare systems. A systematic review of the economic impact of CO on healthcare systems was conducted by searching the main electronic scientific databases. Cost-of-illness (COI) analyses of children aged under 18 years who had been diagnosed as overweight or obese published up to July 2010 were considered. Short- and long-term consequences of CO were taken into account. In order to appraise the quality of the included studies, the British Medical Journal referees' checklist was used. About 3,844 COI analyses were initially found and 10 were finally considered in the current review: two studies referred to Beveridge and eight referred to Voluntary health insurance models. No studies have been conducted within a Bismarck model. Six studies considered in-patient costs, four studies estimated outpatient and primary care costs and seven studies considered pharmaceutical costs. The average quality of the included analyses was medium. The analysis confirmed the significance of CO related costs and the heterogeneity among available studies, which made it impossible to compare the different healthcare models.
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