Hip replacement in Austria - modelling the economic burden due to obesity

Introduction: Since low birth rates meet growing life expectancy the population in Austria is tending to overage, thereby causing increasing economic burden for the public healthcare system. For the planning of healthcare resources and decision making in health poli cy, comprehensive tools to evaluate the future demand for health services and expenditure in the healthcare sector are needed. A simulation model taking into account the demographic d evelopment to evaluate the future need for hip replacement was already
published, but lacks of accounting for the increasing prevalence of obesity.
Research goal: Based on literature review it can be seen that there is a link
between obesity and the need for hip arthroplasty. The aim of the presented model is to evaluate the additional burden for the healthcare system in the domain of hip replacement, which is caused by obesity.
Methods: Based on data from literature and Austria’s national statistics service a
system dynamics model was created, taking into account the influence of obesity on the frequency of indi cations for hip arthroplasty, the need for revision of implants and the length of stay in hospital.
Findings and results: The results indicate a 77% increase in the total costs until
2050 solely due to the demographic change. This growth might be doubled by the boosted need for hip replacement through obesity. Therefore comprehensive countermeasures and preventive a ctions to reduce obesity are needed. Through simulation of different scenarios of the BMI distribution within Austria’s population the presented model offers a comprehensive view on the influence of obesity on the healthcare expenditure in the domain of
hip implants. Thus it provides a basis for future decisions in health policy making.