Changes in HbA1clevels and body mass index after successful decompression surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and lumbar spinal stenosis: results of a 2-year follow-up study.
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) can hinder a patient's physical activity, which in turn can impair glucose tolerance and body weight regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM-2). Therefore, successful lumbar surgery could facilitate glycemic control and body weight regulation.



This study aimed to evaluate the effects of postoperative improvement in physical activity on body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) level in patients with LSS and DM-2 over a 2-year follow-up period.



Prospective longitudinal observational study.



Patients with LSS and DM-2.



Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for back pain and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) sections, BMI, and blood analysis for HbA1cwere carried out.



A total of 119 patients were enrolled for analysis of the effect of successful decompression surgery on changes in HbA1clevels and BMI. The VAS score, ODI score, JOA score, JOABPEQ, BMI, HbA1cwere reassessed at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. Additionally, correlations between changes in HbA1cand changes in the ODI, JOA, JOABPEQs, and BMI were analyzed.



The overall values of HbA1c before and at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after the surgery were 7.08±0.94%, 6.58±0.87%, 6.59±0.79%, and 6.59±0.79%, respectively (p-values; 6 months: .024; 1 year: .021; 2 years: .038). In the not well-controlled sugar (non-WCS) group (preoperative HbA1c>6.5%), the difference between pre- and postoperative HbA1cwas highly statistically significant (p<.01). The overweight group (preoperative BMI≥25) showed statistically significant BMI reduction in the second year after surgery (p=.034). The postoperative HbA1cchanges are strongly correlated with the improvements of ODI, JOA, and JOABPEQ after surgery.



The present study demonstrates that in patients with DM-2 and LSS, successful lumbar surgery may facilitate glycemic control by enabling an increase in the patient's level of physical activity. Additionally, it could help reduce body weight in overweight (BMI>25) patients with DM-2 and LSS.
Department of Neurosurgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 130, Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: nskimkt7@gmail.com.
Kyoung-Tae
KT
Kim
Department of Neurosurgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 130, Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.
Dae-Chul
DC
Cho
Department of Neurosurgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 130, Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea.
Joo-Kyung
JK
Sung
Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
Chi Heon
CH
Kim
Deparment of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, 102, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06973, Republic of Korea.
Hyun
H
Kang
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Dongsan Medical Center, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, 56, Dalseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41931, Republic of Korea.
Du Hwan
DH
Kim
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin
Body mass index; Hemoglobin A(1c); Lumbar spinal stenosis; Lumbar surgery; Physical activity; Type 2 diabetes mellitus