Market Insights on Bariatric Surgery Volume Decline

This case study presents an analysis conducted by Kythera Labs regarding the decline in bariatric surgery cases within a healthcare organization in the Mid-Atlantic region over the past year. The organization sought to understand the reasons behind this decline, suspecting that competitors were capturing market share. The analysis utilized Kythera's Surgical Enhanced Dataset and Rx Claims data to explore various factors, including market share, reimbursement landscape, and referral environment. Findings indicated that the overall bariatric surgery market had been declining for two years, primarily due to a significant increase in prescriptions for weight-loss medications such as Ozempic® and Wegovy®. Contrary to initial beliefs, the analysis revealed that competitors were also experiencing losses in surgery volumes. The insights allowed the healthcare organization to avoid unnecessary investments aimed at regaining market share and instead adjust their strategy to address the shift from surgical interventions to pharmaceutical solutions.