OBJECTIVE: To provide an assessment of the cost burden of obesity across a spectrum of obesity-related comorbidities (ORCs) for four countries in South-Eastern Europe (SEE). METHODS: A micro-costing analysis from the public payer perspective was conducted to estimate direct healthcare costs associated with ten obesity-related comorbidities (ORCs) in Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, and Romania. A survey was administered to obtain healthcare resource use and unit cost data. Cost estimates were validated by local steering committees which comprised at least one public sector clinician and a panel of independent industry experts. RESULTS: Chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases were the costliest ORCs across all 4 countries, where annual cost burden per ORC exceeded 1,500 USD per patient per year. In general, costs were driven by the tertiary care resources allocated to address treatment-related adverse events, disease complications, and associated inpatient procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm that the high prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities result in substantial financial burden to all 4 SEE public payers. By quantifying the burden of obesity from a public healthcare perspective, our study aims to support policy efforts that promote health education and promotion in combating obesity in the region.

Department of Obesitology Institute of Endocrinology Prague Czech Republic

Ipsos Pte Ltd Singapore Singapore

Medical School of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens Athens Greece

Novo Nordisk Belgrade Serbia

Novo Nordisk Copenhagen Denmark

St Imre University Teaching Hospital Budapest Hungary

University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Hațieganu Cluj Napoca Romania

University of West Attica Athens Greece

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