title: Bariatric surgery outcomes: a single-center study in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bariatric surgery has become an attractive treatment for severe obesity over the last decade, due to its impacts on weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In the United Arab Emirates, a country where the rate of obesity is dramatically increasing bariatric surgery has gained popularity in recent years; however, published data on its outcomes in the Emirati population are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 95 patients who underwent bariatric surgery (ie, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass [RYGB] or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) at the Rashid Center for Diabetes and Research in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Weight outcomes and metabolic marker data were abstracted at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laparoscopic RYGB was the main procedure performed by our bariatric unit. All variables demonstrated postoperative improvement. An average excess weight loss of 68% was observed at 12 months. Fat mass was the body component that decreased the most, with an average reduction of 46%. Additionally, lipid profiles were significantly different (P<0.01) at 12 months, with triglyceride levels improving by 27% and low-density lipoprotein levels improving by 21%. Similarly, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels decreased significantly (P<0.001) in patients with type 2 diabetes, with an average reduction of 73%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that a substantial short-term reduction in weight and significant improvements in metabolic markers followed bariatric surgery in severely obese Emirati patients. Our results are consistent with the outcomes of other internationally published studies. Additional studies are warranted to determine whether the favorable impacts of bariatric surgery can be sustained over the long term.
authors.affiliation: Rashid Center for Diabetes and Research, Ministry of Health, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abusnana
authors.affiliation: Rashid Center for Diabetes and Research, Ministry of Health, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.affiliation: Rashid Center for Diabetes and Research, Ministry of Health, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Brigette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tagure
authors.affiliation: Rashid Center for Diabetes and Research, Ministry of Health, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Murtada
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elbagir
authors.affiliation: Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Almantas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maleckas
keywords: laparoscopic RYGB; laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; lipid profile; type 2 diabetes