Title: Economic impact of obesity in the Canary Islands: Real-World Data
Funded by: Fundación Canaria Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC)
Grant amount: €14,650.00
Duration: 2 years (2024-2025)
Principal Investigator: Aránzazu Hernández Yumar
Associated Researchers: Beatriz González López-Valcárcel, Benjamín Rodríguez Díaz, Carmen Guirado Fuentes, Cristina Valcárcel Nazco, Ignacio Abásolo Alessón, Lidia García Pérez, María Candelaria Martín Campos, Renata Linertová, Tasmania del Pino Sedeño.
Background:
Recent reports indicate an obesity rate of 18.1% among the adult population in the Canary Islands. This condition is the fourth risk factor for the development of non-communicable diseases, leading to additional economic costs for the healthcare system and patients.
Objectives:
Estimate the economic cost of obesity in the Canary Islands, considering the presence of comorbidities related to this health issue.
Methodology:
The research proposal is divided into four specific objectives, which will collectively achieve the general objective:
- Systematic review of available evidence to understand the economic cost (and its components) of obesity in other countries;
- Assessment of existing comorbidities (related to obesity) in the Canary Island population;
- Creation of patient profiles for populations with and without obesity;
- Estimation of the economic cost of obesity.
For objectives 2, 3, and 4, a retrospective population cohort study will be designed, including patients from the SCS who meet the following selection criteria between 2013 and 2023: individuals aged 18 or older, registered in the primary care (AP) and specialized care (AE) administrative and clinical management system, and who have at least one contact with AP and/or AE between 2013-2023. Exclusion criteria include patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and/or chronic respiratory diseases in 2013 or prior to the diagnosis of obesity, women who were pregnant during the study period, patients without data on weight, height, or body mass index (BMI), and those with less than one year of follow-up. The exposure factor considered is a diagnosis of obesity or a BMI of 30 or higher.
Applicability:
The project’s results will provide insights into 1) the most common comorbidities associated with obesity; 2) identification of patient profiles; 3) the economic cost (and its components) of obesity. This information will be valuable for public institutions, assisting them in advancing towards a sustainable healthcare system.
Contact Person: Aránzazu Hernández Yumar (aranzazu.hernandezyumar@sescs.es)