COST-BENEFIT AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF BARIATRIC SURGERIES FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS TREATMENT IN BAHRAIN

Bariatric surgery, compared to conventional medical treatment, is effective in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), an illness which has a multitude of negative physiological and psychological health consequences. Conducting bariatric surgery that results in the improvement and remission of diabetes is essential for both patients and health care providers, to maximize health outcomes and reduce present and future costs. This study compared costs (to providers, to patients), nonmonetary outcomes (diabetes remission, weight loss, Quality-Adjusted Life Years Gained), monetary outcomes (cost savings), and cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit indices for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery and Laparoscopic One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass surgery, compared to conventional medical treatment. 76 Bahraini patients underwent one type of bariatric surgery, based on the severity of their health condition. A patient group receiving conventional T2D treatment, matched on gender, age, BMI, and HbA1c levels, was used as a comparison group to reduce viable explanations for differences in the effectiveness of different surgeries, and to examine differences between surgery and conventional treatment. Physiological measures were assessed before treatment to two years posttreatment. Costs, benefits, and cost-savings were measured from two years pretreatment to two years posttreatment. Bariatric surgeries were predicted to be more effective, beneficial, cost-beneficial, and cost-effective relative to conventional treatment. Both surgeries lowered BMI and HbA1c levels, were found to be cost-beneficial (where total benefits exceed total costs), and remained cost-effective in terms of cost per Quality-Adjusted Life Years Gained (QALYG), compared to conventional treatment for diabetes at two years posttreatment.