A study from a research team a Boston-based Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, published in The Journal of Arthroplasty, has determined that patients with a high body mass index cost facilities up to 7% for joint arthroplasty.
The study, published in December, looked at 7,340 total knee arthroplasties and 6,466 total hip arthroplasties performed between 2019 and 2023, stratifying patient data into four BMI categories.
The study looked at groups with a BMI below 30, between 30 and 35, between 35 and 40, and greater than or equal to 40.
Here is what the study determined about cost growth, based on BMI:
Patients whose BMI were between 30% and under 35%
TKA:
3% higher personnel costs than patients whose BMI was under 30%.
1% higher supply costs
2% higher facility costs
THA:
No change in personnel costs
1% higher supply costs
1% higher facility costs
Patients whose BMI were between 35% and less than 40%
TKA:
7% higher personnel costs
4% higher supply costs
5% higher facility costs
THA:
8% higher personnel costs
4% higher supply costs
5% higher facility costs
Patients whose BMI is greater than or equal to 40% BMI
TKA:
13% higher personnel costs
4% higher supply costs
8% higher facility costs
THA:
8% higher personnel costs
3% higher supply costs
5% higher facility costs
The research determined that BMI values of 35%, 40% and 45% were associated with 2%, 3% and 5% increases in total facility costs for total knee arthroplasty procedures, respectively.
For total hip arthroplasty, those same BMI values of 35%, 40% and 45% were associated with 3%, 5% and 7% increases in facility total costs, respectively.