Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39285034›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2024

A cost comparison of GLP-1 receptor agonists and bariatric surgery: what is the break even point?

Salvatore Docimo, Jay Shah, Gus Warren, Samer Ganam, Joseph Sujka, Christopher DuCoin

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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  11. The 'Obesity First' approach: Redefining the future of healthcare.Indian journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Salvatore DocimoDivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tampa General Hospital, Horatio Street, Tampa, FL, 33609, USA. docimo@usf.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-3329-5699
Jay ShahMorsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Horatio Street, Tampa, FL, 33609, USA.
Gus WarrenMorsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Horatio Street, Tampa, FL, 33609, USA.
Samer GanamMorsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Horatio Street, Tampa, FL, 33609, USA.
Joseph SujkaDivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tampa General Hospital, Horatio Street, Tampa, FL, 33609, USA.
Christopher DuCoinDivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tampa General Hospital, Horatio Street, Tampa, FL, 33609, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith the prevalence of obesity rising in the US, medical management is of increasing importance. Two popular options for the treatment of obesity are bariatric surgery (e.g. sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) and the increasingly popular GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 s). This study examines the initial and long-term costs of GLP-1 s compared to bariatric surgery. STUDY

designWe compared average 2023 national retail prices for GLP-1 s to surgical cost estimates from 2015 adjusted for inflation. We then plotted the cumulative medication cost over time against the flat cost of each surgery, thus calculating "break-even points" (when medication costs equal surgery costs). The findings revealed a crucial insight, for some GLP-1 s like Saxenda and Wegovy, the high cost of ongoing use surpasses the cost of RYGB in less than a year and sleeve gastrectomy within nine months. Even the most affordable option, Byetta, becomes costlier than surgery after around 1.5 years.

resultsThis highlights the importance of looking beyond the initial financial investment when considering cost-effectiveness. Additionally, while not directly assessed, this study acknowledges that GLP-1 s take time to reach full effectiveness, potentially delaying weight loss while accumulating costs. Concerns also exist about weight regain after discontinuing the medication.

conclusionThis study is limited by the real-world variation for individual treatment costs (e.g. insurance), a limited evaluation of long-term costs associated with either treatment modality and their co-morbidities, and the reality of patient preference providing subjective value to either modality. Overall, the study offers insights into the financial trade-offs between GLP-1 s and bariatric surgery.

Indexed as

Bariatric SurgeryGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsCost-Benefit AnalysisDrug CostsGastrectomyHumansObesityObesity, MorbidUnited StatesGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsBariatric surgeryCost effectivenessDiabetesGLP-1 receptor agonistMounjaroObesityOzempicRoux-en-Y gastric bypassSleeve gastrectomyWegovy

Identifiers

PMID39285034

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.