title: Patient expectations of bariatric surgery are gender specific--a prospective, multicenter cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of bariatric surgery on weight loss and improvement of co-morbidities is no longer doubted. However, little attention has been given to the treatment goals from the patient's point of view (patient expectations). The objective of this study was to examine patients' expectations of bariatric surgery and identify gender differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bariatric patients were asked to complete a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Wilcoxon rank sum test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 248 patients participated in this study (69.4% females). The male patients (45.2 yr, SD±11.1) were significantly older than the female (41.8 yr, SD±12.0; P = .04) and suffered significantly more often from diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and sleep apnea. One hundred thirty patients (52.4%) expected to lose at least 45 kg and 39 patients (15.7%)>70 kg. The mean expected excess weight loss was 71.8%. Females expected significantly more often that surgery alone would induce weight loss (P = .03). "Improved co-morbidity" was by far the highest ranked parameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The male bariatric surgery patients were older and suffered from more co-morbidities. Most of the patients had unrealistic weight loss goals and overestimated the effect of the surgical intervention. However, for both female and male patients, "improved co-morbidity" was the most important issue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: lars.fischer@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.affiliation: Obesity Clinic, Schoen Klinik Hamburg Eilbek, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Biometry and Informatics, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bruckner
authors.affiliation: Obesity Clinic, Schoen Klinik Hamburg Eilbek, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herbig
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Büchler
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Beat P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Müller-Stich
authors.affiliation: Morbid Obesity Center, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sandbu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Bariatric surgery; Co-morbidity; Gender differences; Patient expectations; Weight loss goals