Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Health-Related Quality of Life: An Analysis of the National Bariatric Surgery Registry Data

Previous smaller studies have shown varied impacts of bariatric surgery on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study sought to analyze data from the National Bariatric Surgery Registry (NBSR) to explore the connection between weight and HRQoL in patients undergoing bariatric surgery in the UK.

This observational study utilized NBSR data collected from June 1, 2017, to November 23, 2022. Patients who had primary bariatric surgery and completed at least one follow-up visit within one year were included. The study assessed the relationship between the EuroQol Five Dimension 5-level (EQ-5D) scores and body mass index (BMI) at both baseline and over time. Additional analyses looked at factors such as type 2 diabetes status, surgical procedure type and EQ-5D domains.

The results revealed that:

• A total of 5,587 observations from 2,160 patients were analyzed.
• Initially, the average BMI was 45.7 ± 7.8 kg/m², while the average EQ-5D score was 0.78 ± 0.22. 
• Each 1 kg/m² increase in BMI was linked to a 0.005 decrease in EQ-5D scores.
• One month post-surgery, EQ-5D scores rose to 0.91 ± 0.2, and BMI fell to 39.8 ± 7.1 kg/m².
• By 12 months, EQ-5D scores stabilized at 0.90 ± 0.17, while BMI continued to drop to 31.5 ± 6.2 kg/m². 
• A 1 kg/m² reduction in BMI correlated with a 0.006 increase in EQ-5D scores. 
• Additionally, remission of type 2 diabetes was associated with a notable increase in EQ-5D scores (0.037), while the type of surgical procedure did not show a significant association. 
• Improvements in BMI were linked to enhancements across all five EQ-5D domains.

This extensive analysis found that greater weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes are significantly linked to improved HRQoL after bariatric surgery. The relationship between HRQoL and BMI in bariatric patients differs from previous findings related to behavioral interventions. 

Source: Buckell J, Small PK, Jebb SA, Aveyard P, Khan O, McGlone ER; NBSR Collaborators. What is the effect of bariatric surgery on health-related quality of life in people with obesity? Observational cohort analysis of the United Kingdom National Bariatric Surgery Registry. Int J Surg. 2024 Nov 1;110(11):6898-6905. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000002044. PMID: 39172711; PMCID: PMC11573071.