Costs and outcomes of increasing access to bariatric surgery for obesity: cohort study and cost-effectiveness analysis using electronic health records

Measuring Dietary Intake of Pregnant Women Post-Bariatric Surgery: Do Women Meet Recommendations?

Background: Bariatric surgery is increasingly offered to women of childbearing age and significantly reduces food intake and nutrient absorption. During pregnancy, associated risks, including micronutrient deficiency, are accentuated. This study describes maternal dietary intake and adherence to dietary recommendations in pregnant women with a history of bariatric surgery. Methods: Women aged 18-45 with singleton pregnancies post-bariatric surgery were recruited at <23 weeks of gestation and followed until birth. Dietary intake was measured using three non-consecutive 24 h recalls at enrolment and at 28 and 36 weeks using the standardized tool ASA24-Australia. Micronutrient supplementation dose and adherence was reported using the Brief Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Mean macronutrient intake was calculated from all diet recalls. Micronutrient intake was determined from diet recalls and from supplementation. Intake was compared to the recommended daily intakes for pregnancy. Results: Sixty-three women participated in the study. The participants met 65 ± 17.3% (mean ± SD) of estimated energy requirements, 53(23)% (median(IQR)) of fiber requirements, and exceeded fat and saturated fat recommendations. Dietary intake levels of iron, folate, zinc, calcium, and vitamin A were below recommended levels. Gastric bypass recipients consumed significantly less folate (p = 0.008), vitamin A (p = 0.035), and vitamin E (p = 0.027) than women post-gastric sleeve or gastric band. Multivitamins were used by 80% (n = 55) of participants at study enrolment, which increased their mean intake of all micronutrients to meet recommendations. Conclusions: Women who conceive post-bariatric surgery may require targeted support to meet the recommended nutrient intake. Micronutrient supplementation enables women to meet nutrient recommendations for pregnancy and is particularly important for gastric bypass recipients.

Real-world costs of obesity-related complications over eight years: a US retrospective cohort study in 28,500 individuals

BACKGROUND

Obesity-related complications (ORCs) are associated with high costs for healthcare systems. We assessed the relationship between comorbidity burden, represented by both number and type of 14 specific ORCs, and total healthcare costs over time in people with obesity in the USA.

METHODS

Adults (≥ 18 years old) identified from linked electronic medical records and administrative claims databases, with a body mass index measurement of 30-< 70 kg/m2 between 1 January 2007 and 31 March 2012 (earliest measurement: index date), and with continuous enrolment for ≥ 1 year pre index (baseline year) and ≥ 8 years post index, were included. Individuals were grouped by type and number of ORCs during the pre-index baseline year. The primary outcome was annual total adjusted direct per-person healthcare costs.

RESULTS

Of 28,583 included individuals, 12,686 had no ORCs, 7242 had one ORC, 4180 had two ORCs and 4475 had three or more ORCs in the baseline year. Annual adjusted direct healthcare costs increased with the number of ORCs and over the 8-year follow-up. Outpatient costs were the greatest contributor to baseline annual direct costs, irrespective of the number of ORCs. For specific ORCs, costs generally increased gradually over the follow-up; the largest percentage increases from year 1 to year 8 were observed for chronic kidney disease (+ 78.8%) and type 2 diabetes (+ 47.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

In a US real-world setting, the number of ORCs appears to be a cost driver in people with obesity, from the time of initial obesity classification and for at least the following 8 years.

Experiences of the Bariatric Pre-Surgery Evaluation Process in a National Health Service—An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

There is currently little understanding of bariatric patients’ experiences and expectations of the bariatric pre-surgery evaluation (PSE) process. This is especially true for patients within the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. Consequently, this study undertakes a qualitative study to explore the experiences and expectations of the bariatric PSE amongst patients who had undergone bariatric surgery within the NHS in the UK, using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three inter-related superordinate themes were presented: (i) ‘PSE was challenging but essential’, (ii) ‘Coping processes to deal with the PSE’, and (iii) ‘Staff and service evaluation’. Most participants had conflicting feelings about the PSE process as it had both positive and negative impacts on their wellbeing. The process was considered essential for preparation and successful post-surgery adjustment, though the uncertainty of approval was experienced as very distressing. Consequently, participants utilised both external and internal coping strategies, such as social support, researching, or ‘toeing the line’. Participants’ experiences encouraged them to provide feedback about the staff and service, which revealed a preference for a tailored evaluation process. The emerged themes represent an initial framework for helping healthcare providers and researchers to involve patients in service delivery thereby facilitating a patient-centred approach. A starting point is to audit patients’ perspectives routinely. Further investigations are needed to better define, validate, and understand constructs and processes identified in this study.

Association of Kidney Stone Disease (KSD) with Primary Gastrointestinal Surgery: a Systematic Review over Last 2 Decades

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We aim to provide an up-to-date literature review to further characterise the association of kidney stone disease (KSD) with gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. As KSD is associated with significant morbidity, it is important to quantify and qualify this association to provide better care and management for the patient subgroup.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a systematic review of the existing literature to evaluate the association of KSD following GI surgery.

METHODS

A literature search was performed of the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, Key Urology, Uptodate and Cochrane Trials from January 2000 to June 2020.

RECENT FINDINGS

A total of 106 articles were identified, and after screening for titles, abstracts and full articles, 12 full papers were included. This involved a total of 9299 patients who underwent primary GI surgery. Over a mean follow-up period of 5.4 years (range: 1-14.4 years), 819 (8.8%) developed KSD, varying from 1.2 to 83% across studies. The mean time to stone formation was approximately 3 years (range: 0.5-9 years). In the 4 studies that reported on the management of KSD (n = 427), 38.6% went on to have urological intervention. There is a high incidence of KSD following primary GI surgery, and after a mean follow-up of 3 years, around 9% of patients developed KSD. While the GI surgery was done for obesity, inflammatory bowel disease or cancer, the risk of KSD should be kept in mind during follow-up, and prompt urology involvement with metabolic assessment, medical and or surgical management offered as applicable.

The Clinical Obesity Maintenance Model: A Theoretical Framework for Bariatric Psychology

Ranked highly in its association with serious medical comorbidities, obesity, a rapidly growing epidemic worldwide, poses a significant socio-economic burden. While bariatric procedures offer the most efficacious treatment for weight loss, a subset of patients risk weight recidivism. Due to the heterogeneity of obesity, it is likely that there are phenotypes or sub-groups of patients that require evidence-based psychological support to produce more sustainable outcomes. So far, however, characteristics of patients have not led to a personalized treatment algorithm for bariatric surgery. Maintenance of weight loss following bariatric surgery requires long-term modification of eating behaviors and physical activity. A recent Clinical Obesity Maintenance Model (COMM) proposed a conceptual framework of salient constructs, including the role of habit, behavioral clusters, emotion dysregulation, mood, health literacy, and executive function as interconnected drivers of obesity maintaining behaviors relevant to the field of bariatric psychology. The primary aim of this concise review is to bring together emerging findings from experimental and epidemiological studies relating to the COMM constructs that may inform the assessment and follow up of bariatric surgery. We also aim to explain the phenotypes that need to be understood and screened prior to bariatric surgery to enable better pre-surgery intervention and optimum post-surgery response.

Length of stay by uncomplicated diabetes bariatric surgery patients: A laparoscopic adjustable banding versus laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVE

Bariatric surgery is an effective procedure for morbidly obese patients when all else fails. The purpose of this study was to compare the hospital length of stay (LOS) for two surgical procedures, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

METHODS

This study was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2009 to 2014. Patients who received bariatric surgery as indicated by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) procedure codes were selected (N = 4001). Cases were limited to uncomplicated diabetic patients. Differences in the odds of long vs short (2< and ≥2) stay for a patient receiving LSG were compared with LAGB while adjusting for hospital volume, hospital size, patient age, gender, ethnicity, season, and year using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The odds for LSG (odds ratio [OR] = 0.100, 0.066-0.150, P < 0.001) patients for long LOS are lower when compared with LAGB. In the stratified logistic regression model, both male (OR = 0.157, 0.074-0.333, P < 0.001) and female (OR = 0.077, 0.046-0.127, P < 0.001) had reduced odds of extended LOS for LSG. Discharged patients in the year 2012 (OR = 0.660, 0.536-0.813, P < 0.001) had decreased odds of having a longer LOS when compared with the year 2014. Both government, nonfederal (OR = 0.452, 0.251-0.816, P = 0.008), and private investor-owned (OR = 0.421, 0.244-0.726, P < 0.001) patients had similar odds for long duration of stay when compared with government or private. Urban non-teaching (OR = 1.954, 1.653-2.310, P < 0.001) patients had higher odds for long LOS in comparison with urban teaching. New England patients' (OR = 0.365, 0.232-0.576, P < 0.001) odds for extended LOS were lower when compared with pacific. Both patients who received care in low (OR = 1.330, 1.109-1.595, P = 0.002) and medium (OR = 1.639, 1.130-2.377, P = 0.009) volume hospital had increased odds for long duration of stay. Female patients in the stratified logistic regression model with high (OR = 1.330, 1.109-1.595, P < 0.002) volume had elevated odds of extended LOS when compared with very low volume hospital.

CONCLUSION

Among the uncomplicated diabetic patients, LSG provides a substantially low odds of extended LOS after adjusting for covariates when compared with LAGB. The finding of the relative reduction in LOS for LSG suggests opportunities for improvement both for cost reduction for third party insurance payers and greater efficacy and outcomes for patients.

Outcome of bariatric surgery in older patients

BACKGROUND

People are living longer than they were expected to 2 decades ago. Increased life expectancy and reduced mortality encompasses a simultaneous increase in the number of older adults with obesity that entails an increase of co-morbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and many other diseases. The aim of our study was to compare the outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients age ≥65 in comparison with younger patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study compares bariatric surgeries performed in a private institution between the years 2013 and 2015. The study included 9044 patients divided into an older group (451 patients) and the younger group (8593 patients).

RESULTS

In the younger group, bariatric surgery is distributed as follows: 77.68% sleeve gastrectomy, 12.72% gastric banding, 9.27% gastric bypass, and .33% duodenal switch or biliopancreatic diversion; in the older group: 70.51% sleeve gastrectomy, 15.08% gastric bypass, 13.97% gastric band, and .44% biliopancreatic diversion. In the control group 550 cases (6.4%) underwent revisional surgery; 64 cases (14.10%) underwent revision in the older group. Older patients lost less excess weight than younger patients (72.44% versus 86.11%, respectively). Older patients presented higher rates of complications (8.42% versus 5.59%), co-morbidities (77.60% versus 55.45%), and revisions (1.33% versus .77%). There was no statistical difference in hospital stay between older group and control group (2.27 versus 2.23, respectively). When performing a Clavien-Dindo classification, we demonstrated significant differences in class 3B and 4A and no differences in other classes. Two deaths occurred in the control group. Diabetes, fatty liver, and sleep apnea have been improved or remitted in >90% of patients in both groups, hypertension and hyperlipidemia by >80%, and hyperuricemia and ischemic heart disease were improved or resolved in >70% of the patients CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery in the elderly has more complications, but it can still be considered safe.