The effects of incremental costs of smoking and obesity on health care costs among adults: a 7-year longitudinal study

J Occup Environ Med. 2012 Mar;54(3):286-91. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e318246f1f4.

Abstract

Objective: To provide the simultaneous 7-year estimates of incremental costs of smoking and obesity among employees and dependents in a large health care system.

Methods: We used a retrospective cohort aged 18 years or older with continuous enrollment during the study period. Longitudinal multivariate cost analyses were performed using generalized estimating equations with demographic adjustments.

Results: The annual incremental mean costs of smoking by age group ranged from $1274 to $1401. The incremental costs of morbid obesity II by age group ranged from $5467 to $5530. These incremental costs drop substantially when comorbidities are included.

Conclusions: Obesity and smoking have large long-term impacts on health care costs of working-age adults. Controlling comorbidities impacted incremental costs of obesity but may lead to underestimation of the true incremental costs because obesity is a risk factor for developing chronic conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Body Mass Index
  • Comorbidity
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Obesity / economics*
  • Obesity, Morbid / economics
  • Overweight / economics
  • Retirement / economics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Smoking / economics*