H Hauner1, I Köster, L von Ferber. 1. Klinische Abteilung des Diabetes-Forschungsinstituts, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of the diagnoses 'overweight' or 'obesity' in medical records and to examine the utilization of the out-patient health care system by 'obese' subjects. DESIGN: All claims-cards, prescriptions and other diagnosis-carrying medical certificates from 1990 of a representative sample of members of a large local health insurance were collected and analyzed anonymously in a patient-related approach. SUBJECTS: A 5% random sample (n = 6085) of all members of the general local health insurance (AOK) in the city of Dortmund, Germany. MEASUREMENTS: The percentage of subjects carrying the diagnosis of 'overweight' and/or 'obesity' was determined. In addition, the utilization of medical services and the presence of comorbid conditions in the documents of the AOK was recorded. RESULTS: A total number of 377 'obese' subjects was identified corresponding with a prevalence rate of 6.2%. Among those, more women than men carried one of these diagnoses (240 vs 137, 7.3% vs 4.9%, p < 0.01). In comparison with an age- and sex-matched control group (n = 1131) the 'obese' subjects had significantly more practice contacts (25.7 vs 17.5/year, p < 0.01) and received more medical services (64.2 vs 43.0/year, p < 0.01), including more prescriptions (20.9 vs 15.5/year, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the 'obese' subjects had more additional diagnoses indicating a higher comorbidity and received more drugs for diseases and complications which are characteristic of obesity but also for other diseases. CONCLUSION: This data suggests that in view of its high prevalence in Germany obesity is perceived and documented by health professionals only in a minority of affected subjects indicating that this disorder is considerably under-estimated. It is also evident from the data that obesity is mainly noticed in those who have other serious health problems.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of the diagnoses 'overweight' or 'obesity' in medical records and to examine the utilization of the out-patient health care system by 'obese' subjects. DESIGN: All claims-cards, prescriptions and other diagnosis-carrying medical certificates from 1990 of a representative sample of members of a large local health insurance were collected and analyzed anonymously in a patient-related approach. SUBJECTS: A 5% random sample (n = 6085) of all members of the general local health insurance (AOK) in the city of Dortmund, Germany. MEASUREMENTS: The percentage of subjects carrying the diagnosis of 'overweight' and/or 'obesity' was determined. In addition, the utilization of medical services and the presence of comorbid conditions in the documents of the AOK was recorded. RESULTS: A total number of 377 'obese' subjects was identified corresponding with a prevalence rate of 6.2%. Among those, more women than men carried one of these diagnoses (240 vs 137, 7.3% vs 4.9%, p < 0.01). In comparison with an age- and sex-matched control group (n = 1131) the 'obese' subjects had significantly more practice contacts (25.7 vs 17.5/year, p < 0.01) and received more medical services (64.2 vs 43.0/year, p < 0.01), including more prescriptions (20.9 vs 15.5/year, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the 'obese' subjects had more additional diagnoses indicating a higher comorbidity and received more drugs for diseases and complications which are characteristic of obesity but also for other diseases. CONCLUSION: This data suggests that in view of its high prevalence in Germany obesity is perceived and documented by health professionals only in a minority of affected subjects indicating that this disorder is considerably under-estimated. It is also evident from the data that obesity is mainly noticed in those who have other serious health problems.
Authors: Felix Nickel; Christian Tapking; Laura Benner; Svenja Schüler; Gregor B Ottawa; Katja Krug; Beat P Müller-Stich; Lars Fischer Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Jodi B Segal; Jeanne M Clark; Andrew D Shore; Francesca Dominici; Thomas Magnuson; Thomas M Richards; Jonathan P Weiner; Eric B Bass; Albert W Wu; Martin A Makary Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 4.129