Influence of complications and extent of weight loss on quality of life after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
BACKGROUND
Obesity decreases health-related quality of life, but bariatric surgery improves it. This study evaluates the effect of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, postoperative complications, and percentage of excess body weight loss on quality of life.


METHODS
SF-36v.1 questionnaires were administered preoperative (n = 505), 1 year (n = 237) and 2 years (n = 106) following laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Analysis was performed using Student's t-test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Complications were defined as requiring additional intervention or hospitalization. SF-36 responses were normalized to 1998 US norms.


RESULTS
Bariatric patients scored significantly lower on all scales compared to the normal population. Health-related quality of life notably improves after surgery. At 1 year, scores not only improved from baseline, but were higher than those of the non-obese reference population regardless of complications. Compared to patients at 2 years without complications, patients experiencing complications reported decreased scores, but scores remained higher than preoperative scores in five scales. At 1 and 2 years, < or = 50% excess body weight loss decreased scores; however, scores were significantly improved from baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
Health-related quality of life in bariatric patients is worse than in controls, but it improves 1 and 2 years after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Complications or < or = 50% excess body weight loss slightly decreases this improvement.
Rea
J D
JD
Department of Surgery, Section of Gastrointestinal Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1922 7th Avenue South KB 404, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0016, USA.
Yarbrough
D E
DE
Leeth
R R
RR
Leath
T D
TD
Clements
R H
RH
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss