Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Obesity is prevalent in the United States. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) has been shown to produce effective weight loss and improvement in obesity-related disease. The cost effectiveness of ESG is currently unclear in patients with obesity with and without type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODS

A decision analytic model with time horizon of 5 years and lifetime, from a health system's perspective was constructed to compare ESG to no weight loss intervention (no ESG) in patients with obesity aged 35-45 years with a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m² with or without T2DM. Parameters were obtained based on peer-reviewed data. One-way and 2-way sensitivity analyses were performed for variations in T2DM resolution and ESG costs.

RESULTS

For the 5-year time horizon in patients with T2DM, ESG produced 4.28 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and cost $77,874, compared with 3.99 QALYs and a cost of $73,738 for no ESG, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $13,922 per QALY. For the lifetime horizon, ESG produced 29.57 QALYs and a lifetime cost of $451,261, compared with 26.69 QALYs and a lifetime cost of $493,806 for no ESG, resulting in a negative ICER (ie, cost saving). The 5-year time horizon in patients without T2DM demonstrated that ESG produced 4.42 QALYs, compared with 4.08 QALYs with no ESG, resulting in an ICER of $39,116 per QALY gained. For the lifetime horizon ESG produced 34.21 QALYs, compared with 31.60 QALYs for no ESG, resulting ICER of $4752.

CONCLUSION

This cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that ESG is cost effective in 5 years and cost saving over a lifetime for patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. ESG remains cost effective at 5 years and over a lifetime in patients without T2DM.