Incremental Charges, Costs, and Length of Stay Associated With Obesity as a Secondary Diagnosis Among Pregnant Women

• DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0b013e31819c94b8
• Publication Date: 2009-09-22T07:15:48Z
• Authors: Leonardo Trasande; Menjean Lee; Yinghua Liu; Michael Weitzman; David Savitz
• Keywords: Adult; 2. Zero hunger; Cesarean Section; Hospitals, Community; Length of Stay; Hospital Charges; United States; 3. Good health; Pregnancy Complications; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Humans; Regression Analysis; Female; Health Services Research; Obesity; Hospital Costs

Background: Elevation in prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) has been linked to a host of perinatal complications, but increases charges or costs associated with obesity during pregnancy have not quantified. Methods: To evaluate the economic impact as diagnosis on hospitalizations pregnant women, we performed descriptive, univariate, and multivariable analysis 1999 2005 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, nationally representative sample admissions US community hospitals. Results: Hospitalizations were rare (0.7%), when was diagnosis, it significant length stay (LOS), charges, costs. Cesarean section more frequent among women hospitalized obesity, this procedure across nearly every pregnancy-related diagnostic category. Controlled for cesarean section, diagnosed LOS (0.55 day), ($2015), ($1805). Increases sustained category incorporated into modeling, whereas increased explained hemorrhage abnormal glucose tolerance pregnancy. Discussion: Although these represent relatively small all obese seems contribute heavily women. Further studies are needed identify reasons health care caring besides section. These data may encourage insurers provide fiscal incentives prevent complications