New Orleans, LA - As the prevalence of obesity in the United States continues to rise, so does the need for safe, effective services and surgical procedures to treat sufferers. Interventional obesity-related surgeries are extremely beneficial with regard to incidence of related conditions and health care costs, according to studies presented today at Digestive Disease Week in New Orleans. Digestive Disease Week (DDW) is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

Scientists have identified that obesity can contribute to a marked increase in length of hospital stays and, as a result, cost of hospital visits for elective surgical procedures not directly related to their obesity. Another study has found that in some cases, obesity-related surgeries can be completed as outpatient procedures, reducing the associated costs. In addition, research shows that services for bariatric patients may be significantly inadequate in the U.S.

"Currently, a major focus in medicine is on preventive measures to work against the prevalence of obesity, but in the interim, it is important to have facilities and therapies available to save lives and treat the host of conditions that result from excess body weight," said Barbara Bass, M.D., of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Obesity Increases Cost and Length of Stay Among Patients Undergoing Elective Surgical Procedures (Abstract 107662*)
In addition to costs incurred through its association with more than 40 different medical disorders, obesity increases length of stay and thus costs of hospital visits for common elective surgical procedures, according to researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center.

Obesity [measured by elevated body mass index (BMI)] impacted length of stay and cost of care for a number of procedures, including abdo
'"/>


16-May-2004

Page: 1 2 3 4 5
Related medicine news :

1. Interventional methods may increase the use of evidence-based practice
2. 9.2 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2004 - up 5%
3. Half-million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures for Hispanics in 2004 - up 49% from 2000
4. Massive weight loss patients create mass appeal for body contouring procedures
5. Drug therapy may be comparable to invasive cardiac procedures for elderly patients with heart attack
6. Invasive procedures do not necessarily improve survival for heart patients
7. Study questions safety of heart procedures at hospitals without cardiac surgery programs
8. Regionalizing some surgical procedures would not result in unreasonable travel burdens on patients
9. Smokers may want to kick butt before dental procedures
10. Few women regret sterilization procedures
11. Use of invasive heart procedures decreases after the age of 75