Age Differences in the Association Between Body Mass Index Class and Annualized Medicare Expenditures. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clark, Daniel O.; Lane, Kathleen A.; Ambuehl, Roberta; Tu, Wanzhu; Liu, Chiung-Ju; Unroe, Kathleen; Callahan, Christopher M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 28:Number 1(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 165
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: obesity -- older adults -- expenditures -- Medicare; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264315589574
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) class and Medicare claims among young-old (65-69), old (70-74), and old-old (75+) adults over a 10-year period.Method: We assessed costs by BMI class and age group among 9, 300 respondents to the 1998 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) with linked 1998-2008 Medicare claims data. BMI was classified as normal (18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9), mild obesity (30-34.9), or severe obesity (35 or above).Results: Annualized total Medicare claims adjusted for age, gender, ethnicity, education, and smoking history were 109% greater for severely obese young-old adults in comparison with normal weight young-old adults (US$9, 751 vs. US$4, 663). Total annualized claim differences between the normal weight and severely obese in the old and old-old groups were not statistically significant.Discussion: Excess Medicare expenditures related to obesity may be concentrated among severely obese young-old adults. Preventing severe obesity among middle and older aged adults may have large cost implications for society.