title: Prospective study of health-related quality of life after Roux-en-Y bypass surgery for morbid obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity on health-related quality of life (QOL) during the first year of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) was administered 1 month before operation, and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Body mass index, co-morbidities and operation-related complications were measured at these times. A mixed-effect model was constructed to analyse repeated measurements and determine the relationships between body mass index, WHOQOL-BREF scores and other variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 102 patients were enrolled. The mixed-effect model showed that the physical, psychological and social domains improved after bariatric surgery, with simultaneous reduction in weight and improvement in co-morbidities. There was a dip in scores in physical and psychological domains 3-6 months after surgery, significantly related to complications. All patients gradually improved between 6 and 12 months after surgery, reaching levels similar to those of healthy subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health-related QOL improved dramatically after bariatric surgery, dipped slightly between 3 and 6 months, and improved again up to the end of the first year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C-K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Y-Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C-M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: J-T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: J-D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult