In-hospital economic impact and mortality of bariatric surgery on congestive heart failure in the USA: a nationwide analysis

Abstract Background Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) remains a significant economic burden in the inpatient setting. There is a complex correlation between obesity and Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Bariatric surgery has emerged as a critical intervention for patients with morbid obesity. However, there is limited data on how this intervention impacts hospital economic metrics and patient outcomes in the context of CHF post-bariatric surgery. Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the in-hospital economic impact and mortality among patients with congestive heart failure who have undergone bariatric surgery. Methods We queried the National Inpatient Sample from 2016 to 2020; this retrospective observational cohort study identified CHF patients who had undergone bariatric surgery through ICD-10 codes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine Total Charges (TOTCH) and Length of Stay (LOS), adjusting for confounders including the Elixhauser comorbidity index, hospital region, quarterly income, and hospital location to identify the economic impact on CHF (Table 1). Results Out of 25,900,000 patients with congestive heart failure, 5,983,684 (23%) were obese, and 208,220 (0.8%) had undergone bariatric surgery. The demographic profile showed a mean age of 63 predominance of females (65%) and the White population (69.5%) (Table 1). The mean TOTCH for patients undergoing bariatric surgery was $66,235, compared to $76,046 for those who did not undergo the surgery, with a significant mean decrease in TOTCH of -$11,454 (p<0.001, 95% CI: -$12,472 to -$10,435). The mean LOS was 5 days for patients with bariatric surgery versus 6 days for those without, showing a mean decrease in LOS of 0.93 days (95% CI: -0.99 to -0.87). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in overall mortality risk among patients who had bariatric surgery (2.1%) compared to those who did not (5%), with an (OR 0.4 p<0.001, 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.43). Conclusion Our research demonstrates that bariatric surgery in obese individuals with congestive heart failure (CHF) markedly decreases in-hospital mortality, reduces hospital charges, and shortens the length of hospital stays. These findings underscore the potential of bariatric surgery as a cost-effective intervention for improving outcomes in patients with CHF and obesity, highlighting the importance of considering surgical weight loss options in the management of CHF.Table 1