Obesity and healthcare resource utilization: comparative results from the UK and the USA

Summary Objectives To estimate the differences between individuals with and without obesity on healthcare resource utilization using two large electronic medical record databases. Methods Data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink and US General Electric Centricity database of adults (≥18 years) with registration date before 01/01/2010. Differences between individuals with and without obesity on 5‐year rates of Primary Care Physician (PCP) contacts, prescriptions and hospitalizations were analysed. Results The study contained 1,878,017 UK and 4,414,883 US individuals. Compared with body mass index (BMI) (18.5–24.9 kg m−2), significant (p < 0.0001) increases in healthcare usage were observed with increasing BMI. Individuals with BMI 30–34.9 kg m−2 had higher PCP contact rate (rate ratios [RR] 1.27 and 1.28 for UK and USA, respectively), higher prescription rate (RR 1.61 and 1.51) and higher hospitalization rate (RR 1.10 and 1.13) than individuals with BMI 18.5–24.9 kg m−2. Individuals with BMI >40 kg m−2 also had higher PCP contact rate (RR 1.56 and 1.64), prescription rate (RR 2.48 and 2.14) and hospitalization rate (RR 1.27 and 1.30) than individuals with BMI 18.5–24.9 kg m−2. Conclusions The utilization of healthcare resources is significantly higher in individuals with obesity. A similar trend was observed in both the UK and US cohorts.