Abstracts / Posters
The impact of a UK general practice weight management programme on prescribing costs: the Counterweight programme
Accepted for poster presentation at ICO, September 2006
The Counterweight Project Team
Background: Economic analyses of weight management models play critical parts in development of health services.
Method: The Counterweight programme is a multi-centre trial aimed at improving obesity management in primary care. Medical records of 3400 patients stratified by age (18-75years) and sex were audited to establish prescribing costs at varying BMI levels (BMI≥30.0kg/m2 n=1150, BMI 25to <30 kg/m2 n=1100, BMI 20 to <25.0 kg/m2 n=1150). Practice staff were trained and supported by specialist dietitians to deliver an evidence-based weight management programme in 65 UK practices. BMI changes from baseline to 12 and 24 months were used to assess their impact on prescribing costs. York Health Economic Consortium compared data with predicted changes in BMI to give relative changes in prescribing costs with and without intervention.
Results: Prescribing costs per patient increased with BMI, particularly above BMI 30kg/ m2. At BMI of 20kg/m2, 25kg/m2, BMI 30kg/m2 and BMI 40kg/m2 mean annual costs for men were £8.45, £14.49, £23.98 and £63.59, and for women were £7.80, £11.56, £16.72 and £27.16 respectively. BMI reductions at 12 months resulted in cost savings of 7.6% (males) and 5.2% (females) per patient increasing to 10.3% and 6.8% for high attenders. Data at 24 months showed similar patterns.
Conclusion: Prescribing accounts for approximately 25% of the total UK general practice budget. Prescribing costs rise with BMI. Costs of delivering weight management should be balanced against potential savings, or at least cost avoidance with successful weight management intervention.