BAROS results in 700 patients after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with subset analysis of age, gender, and initial body mass index.
BACKGROUND
The Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) uses a point scale (maximal score of 9) to evaluate weight loss, complications, improvement in medical conditions, and quality of life among postoperative bariatric patients. The BAROS was originally developed to address the need for a standardized method of reporting open gastric bypass outcomes and has been shown to be both valid and reliable. BAROS scores >7 are considered "excellent." Our objective was to assess the overall BAROS scores in patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at each postoperative follow-up interval and to examine the effect of age and gender on BAROS scores.


METHODS
A total of 700 patients who had undergone LRYGB were asked to complete a BAROS questionnaire at their postoperative visits. The BAROS scores were recorded in a prospective database. The patients were stratified by their initial age and body mass index. The statistical analysis included analysis of variance. P <.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
The mean BAROS score peaked at 7.29 at the 18-month appointment. More than one half of the patients presenting for follow-up visits at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months had BAROS scores in the "excellent" range. Age stratification (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and ≥ 50 years) resulted in significant differences at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months postoperatively. When stratified by the initial body mass index, differences were seen at 3 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with a lower initial body mass index had greater BAROS scores at many of the follow-up intervals. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass effectively improved the overall health and quality of life of patients.
Minimally Invasive Bariatric and Advanced Laparoscopic Fellowship, Department of Medical Education, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601, USA.
Ayman B
AB
Al Harakeh
Christopher J
CJ
Larson
Michelle A
MA
Mathiason
Kara J
KJ
Kallies
Shanu N
SN
Kothari
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult