Obesity is recognized as a major public health problem in America. The number of overweight, obese, and morbidly obese Americans has steadily increased and now represents the most challenging public health issue in the U.S. Obesity initiates and contributes to a wide variety of serious health problems. Controlling and treating obesity through non-surgical interventions has proven largely unsuccessful for the majority of patients, leading to increased interest in surgical procedures aimed at curbing hunger and reducing caloric intake.
In recent years, several surgical procedures have been developed to address obesity. As a group, these surgical procedures are collectively referred to as “bariatric surgery.” In contrast to non-surgical treatments, bariatric surgery has been demonstrated to be highly effective in reducing a patient’s weight with subsequent reduction or elimination of many of the health problems associated with obesity. This success has encouraged an explosion in the number of bariatric surgeries being performed annually in the U.S.
Contents
Executive Summary
Morbid Obesity and Bariatric Surgery Trends in America
- Life-threatening Health Issues Associated with Obesity
Weight Loss after Bariatric Surgery Shown to Improve Overall Health Status
Associated Risks and Assuring Best Patient Outcomes
Evaluating Bariatric Surgery Programs
Hospital Bariatric Surgery Ratings Results
Study Results and Trends
- The Number of Inpatient Procedures is Increasing
Majority of Procedures Performed in Five States
Length of Stay and Cost by State
Patients with Commercial Insurance Represent Majority of Patients
A Trend Toward Less-invasive Laparoscopic Procedures Continues
Risk-adjusted Inhospital Complication Rates Decreased
Improvements Seen in Decreasing Mortality Rates
Hemorrhage was Most Frequently Occurring Complication
Hospitals with Highest Volume had Lowest Complication Rates
Large Gaps in Quality Between Best and Worst Providers
Fewer Complications and Shorter Stays at 5-Star Rated Hospitals
Five-star Hospitals had Lower Complication Rates Across Every Procedure Type
Fourteen States have One or More Hospitals that are 5-star Rated in Bariatric Surgery
Center of Excellence Designation Compared to Star Ratings
Interpretation of Results
Acknowledgements
References
Appendix A. HealthGrades 2010/2011 Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award™ Recipients
Appendix B. Percentage of Payers by State (2006 – 2008)
Appendix C. Types of Bariatric Surgery Procedures
Appendix D. HealthGrades Methodology for Rating Hospitals in Bariatric Surgery
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The Fifth Annual HealthGrades Bariatric Surgery Trends in American Hospitals Study
