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To compare safety and healthcare utilization after sleeve gastrectomy versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in a national Medicare cohort.Though bariatric surgery is increasing among Medicare beneficiaries, no long-term, national studies examining comparative effectiveness between procedures exist. Bariatric outcomes are needed for shared decision-making and coverage policy concerns identified by the cMS Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee.Retrospective instrumental variable analysis of Medicare claims (2012-2017) for 30,105 bariatric surgery patients entitled due to disability or age. We examined clinical safety outcomes (mortality, complications, and reinterventions), healthcare utilization [Emergency Department (ED) visits, rehospitalizations, and expenditures], and heterogeneity of treatment effect. We compared all outcomes between sleeve and bypass for each entitlement group at 30 days, 1 year, and 3 years.Among the disabled (n = 21,595), sleeve was associated with lower 3-year mortality [2.1% vs 3.2%, absolute risk reduction (ARR) 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.2% to -0.03%], complications (22.2% vs 27.7%, ARR 95%CI: -8.5% to -2.6%), reinterventions (20.1% vs 27.7%, ARR 95%CI: -10.7% to -4.6%), ED utilization (71.6% vs 77.1%, ARR 95%CI: -8.5% to -2.4%), and rehospitalizations (47.4% vs 52.3%, ARR 95%Ci: -8.0% to -1.7%). Cumulative expenditures were $46,277 after sleeve and $48,211 after bypass (P = 0.22). Among the elderly (n = 8510), sleeve was associated with lower 3-year complications (20.1% vs 24.7%, ARR 95%CI: -7.6% to -1.7%), reinterventions (14.0% vs 21.9%, ARR 95%CI: -10.7% to -5.2%), ED utilization (51.7% vs 57.2%, ARR 95%CI: -9.1% to -1.9%), and rehospitalizations (41.8% vs 45.8%, ARR 95%Ci: -7.5% to -0.5%). Expenditures were $38,632 after sleeve and $39,270 after bypass (P = 0.60). Procedure treatment effect significantly differed by entitlement for mortality, revision, and paraesophageal hernia repair.Bariatric surgery is safe, and healthcare utilization benefits of sleeve over bypass are preserved across both Medicare elderly and disabled subpopulations.

To compare out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for patients up to 3 years after bariatric surgery in a large, commercially-insured population.More information on OOP costs following bariatric surgery may affect patients' procedure choice.Retrospective study using the IBM MarketScan commercial claims database, representing patients nationally who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2017. We compared total OOP costs after the surgical episode between the 2 procedures using difference-in-differences analysis adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, operative year, and insurance type.Of 63,674 patients, 64% underwent SG and 36% underwent RYGB. Adjusted OOP costs after SG were $1083, $1236, and $1266 postoperative years 1, 2, and 3. For RYGB, adjusted OOP costs were $1228, $1377, and $1369. In our primary analysis, SG OOP costs were $122 (95%CI: -$155 to -$90) less than RYGB year 1. This difference remained consistent at -$119 (95%CI: -$158 to -$79) year 2 and -$80 (95%CI: -$127 to -$35) year 3. These amounts were equivalent to relative differences of -7%, -7%, and -5% years 1, 2, and 3. Plan features contributing the most to differences were co-insurance years 1, 2, and 3.. The largest clinical contributors to differences were endoscopy and outpatient care year 1, outpatient care year 2, and emergency department use year 3.Our study is the first to examine the association between bariatric surgery procedure and OOP costs. Differences between procedures were approximately $100 per year which may be an important factor for some patients deciding whether to pursue SG or gastric bypass.

Objective To separately compare the long-term risk of mortality among bariatric surgical patients undergoing either RYGB or SG to large, matched, population-based cohorts of patients with severe obesity who did not undergo surgery. Background Bariatric surgery has been associated with reduced long-term mortality compared to usual care for severe obesity which is particularly relevant in the COVID-19 era. Most prior studies involved the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) operation and there is less long-term data on the sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Methods In this retrospective, matched cohort study, patients with a body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 who underwent bariatric surgery from January 2005 to September 2015 in three integrated health systems in the United States were matched to nonsurgical patients on site, age, sex, body mass index, diabetes status, insulin use, race/ethnicity, combined Charlson/Elixhauser comorbidity score, and prior health care utilization, with follow-up through September 2015. Each procedure (RYGB, SG) was compared to its own control group and the two surgical procedures were not directly compared to each other. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analysis investigated time to all-cause mortality (primary outcome) comparing each of the bariatric procedures to usual care. Secondary outcomes separately examined the incidence of cardiovascular-related death, cancer related-death, and diabetes related-death. Results Among 13,900 SG, 17,258 RYGB, and 87,965 nonsurgical patients, the 5-year follow-up rate was 70.9%, 72.0%, and 64.5%, respectively. RYGB and SG were each associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to nonsurgical patients at 5-years of follow-up (RYGB: HR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.35,0.54; SG: HR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.13,0.57) Similarly, RYGB was associated with a significantly lower 5-year risk of cardiovascular- (HR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.37), cancer- (HR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.76), and diabetes-related mortality (HR = 0.23; 95% CI:0.15, 0.36). There was not enough follow-up time to assess 5-year cause-specific mortality in SG patients, but at 3-years follow up, there was significantly lower risk of cardiovascular- (HR = 0.33; 95% CI:0.19, 0.58), cancer- (HR = 0.26; 95% CI:0.11, 0.59), and diabetes-related (HR = 0.15; 95% CI:0.04, 0.53) mortality for SG patients. Conclusion This study confirms and extends prior findings of an association with better survival following bariatric surgery in RYGB patients compared to controls and separately demonstrates that the SG operation also appears to be associated with lower mortality compared to matched control patients with severe obesity that received usual care. These results help to inform the trade-offs between long-term benefits and risks of bariatric surgery.

Weight loss is an effective strategy for the management of hypertension, and bariatric surgery is the most effective weight loss and maintenance strategy for obesity. The importance of bariatric surgery in the long-term management of hypertension and which operation is most effective is less clear. We compared the effectiveness of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for remission and relapse of hypertension after surgery in the ENGAGE CVD cohort study (Effectiveness of Gastric Bypass Versus Gastric Sleeve for Cardiovascular Disease). Operations were done by 23 surgeons across 9 surgical practices. Hypertension remission and relapse were assessed in each year of follow-up beginning 30 days and up to 5 years postsurgery. We used a local instrumental variable approach to account for selection bias in the choice of VSG or RYGB. The study population included 4964 patients with hypertension at the time of surgery (n=3186 VSG and n=1778 RYGB). At 1 year, 27% of patients with RYGB and 28% of patients with VSG achieved remission. After 5 years, without accounting for relapse, 42% of RYGB and 43% of VSG patients had experienced hypertension remission. After accounting for relapse, only 17% of RYGB and 18% of VSG patients remained in remission 5 years after surgery. There were no statistically significant differences between VSG and RYGB for hypertension remission, relapse, or mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure at any time during follow-up.

OBJECTIVE To explore the built environment (BE) and weight change relationship by age, sex, and racial/ethnic subgroups in adults. METHODS Weight trajectories were estimated using electronic health records for 115,260 insured Kaiser Permanente Washington members age 18-64 years. Member home addresses were geocoded using ArcGIS. Population, residential, and road intersection densities and counts of area supermarkets and fast food restaurants were measured with SmartMaps (800 and 5000-meter buffers) and categorized into tertiles. Linear mixed-effect models tested whether associations between BE features and weight gain at 1, 3, and 5 years differed by age, sex, and race/ethnicity, adjusting for demographics, baseline weight, and residential property values. RESULTS Denser urban form and greater availability of supermarkets and fast food restaurants were associated with differential weight change across sex and race/ethnicity. At 5 years, the mean difference in weight change comparing the 3rd versus 1st tertile of residential density was significantly different between males (-0.49 kg, 95% CI: -0.68, -0.30) and females (-0.17 kg, 95% CI: -0.33, -0.01) (P-value for interaction = 0.011). Across race/ethnicity, the mean difference in weight change at 5 years for residential density was significantly different among non-Hispanic (NH) Whites (-0.47 kg, 95% CI: -0.61, -0.32), NH Blacks (-0.86 kg, 95% CI: -1.37, -0.36), Hispanics (0.10 kg, 95% CI: -0.46, 0.65), and NH Asians (0.44 kg, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.78) (P-value for interaction

OBJECTIVE: To compare acute care utilization and costs following sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Comparing post-bariatric emergency department (ED) and inpatient care use patterns could assist with procedure choice and provide insights about complication risk. METHODS: We used a national insurance claims database to identify adults undergoing SG and RYGB between 2008 and 2016. Patients were matched on age, gender, calendar-time, diabetes, and baseline acute care use. We used adjusted Cox proportional hazards to compare acute care utilization and two-part logistic regression models to compare annual associated costs (odds of any cost, and odds of high costs, defined as ≥80(th) percentile), between SG and RYGB, overall and within several clinical categories. RESULTS: The matched cohort included 4263 SG and 4520 RYGB patients. Up to 4 years after surgery, SG patients had slightly lower risk of ED visits (aHR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85,0.96) and inpatient stays (aHR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.73,0.88), especially for events associated with digestive-system diagnoses (ED aHR: 0.68; 95% CI:0.62,0.75; inpatient aHR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.53,0.72). SG patients also had lower odds of high ED and high total acute costs (e.g., year-1 acute costs aOR 0.77; 95% CI: 0.66,0.90) in early follow-up. However, observed cost differences decreased by years 3 and 4 (e.g., year-4 acute care costs aOR 1.10; 95% CI: 0.92,1.31). CONCLUSIONS: SG may have fewer complications requiring emergency care and hospitalization, especially as related to digestive system disease. However, any acute care cost advantages of SG may wane over time.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective cohort study investigated the association between having surgery and risk of mortality for up to five years and if this association was modified by incident End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) during the follow-up period. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Mortality risk in individuals with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) is high and few effective treatment options are available. Whether bariatric surgery can improve survival in people with CKD is unclear. METHODS: Patients with class II and III obesity and pre-dialysis CKD stages 3 – 5 who underwent bariatric surgery between 1/1/2006 and 9/30/2015 (n = 802) were matched to patients who did not have surgery (n = 4,933). Mortality was obtained from state death records and ESRD was identified through state-based or healthcare system-based registries. Cox regression models were used to investigate the association between bariatric surgery and risk of mortality and if this was moderated by incident ESRD during the follow-up period. RESULTS: Patients were primarily women (79%), non-Hispanic White (72%), under 65 years old (64%), who had a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2) (59%), diabetes (67%) and hypertension (89%). After adjusting for incident ESRD, bariatric surgery was associated with a 79% lower 5-year risk of mortality compared to matched controls (HR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.14-0.32; p < .001). Incident ESRD did not moderate the observed association between surgery and mortality (HR = 1.59; 95% CI 0.31-8.23; p = .58). CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery is associated with a reduction in mortality in pre-dialysis patients regardless of developing ESRD. These findings are significant because patients with CKD are at relatively high risk for death with few efficacious interventions available to improve survival.

Missing data is common in electronic health records (EHR)-based obesity research. To avoid bias, it is critical to understand mechanisms that underpin missingness. We conducted a survey among bariatric surgery patients in three integrated health systems to (i) investigate predictors of disenrollment and (ii) examine differences in weight between disenrollees and enrollees at 5 years. We identified 2883 patients who had bariatric surgery between 11/2013 and 08/2014. Patients who disenrolled before their 5-year anniversary were invited to participate in a survey to ascertain reasons for disenrollment and current weight. Logistic regression was used to investigate predictors of disenrollment. Five-year percent weight change distributions were estimated using inverse-probability weighting to adjust for (un)availability of EHR weight data at 5 years among enrollees and survey (non-)response among disenrollees. Among 536 disenrolled patients, 104 (19%) completed the survey. Among 2347 patients who maintained enrollment, 384 (16%) had no weight measurement in the EHR near 5 years. Insurance, age, Hispanic ethnicity, and site predicted disenrollment. Disenrollees had slightly greater weight loss than enrollees. We found little evidence of weight loss differences by enrollment status. Collecting information through surveys can be an effective tool to investigate and adjust for missingness in EHR-based studies.

Background: The authors tested the efficacy of the “I-STAND” intervention for reducing sitting time, a novel and potentially health-promoting approach, in older adults with obesity. Methods: The authors recruited 60 people (mean age = 68 ± 4.9 years, 68% female, 86% White; mean body mass index = 35.4). The participants were randomized to receive the I-STAND sitting reduction intervention (n = 29) or healthy living control group (n = 31) for 12 weeks. At baseline and at 12 weeks, the participants wore activPAL devices to assess sitting time (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes included fasting glucose, blood pressure, and weight. Linear regression models assessed between-group differences in the outcomes. Results: The I-STAND participants significantly reduced their sitting time compared with the controls (–58 min per day; 95% confidence interval [–100.3, –15.6]; p = .007). There were no statistically significant changes in the secondary outcomes. Conclusion: I-STAND was efficacious in reducing sitting time, but not in changing health outcomes in older adults with obesity.

OBJECTIVE To compare the safety of sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass in a large cohort of commercially insured bariatric surgery patients from the IBM MarketScan claims database, while accounting for measurable and unmeasurable sources of selection bias in who is chosen for each operation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Sleeve gastrectomy has rapidly become the most common bariatric operation performed in the United States, but its longer-term safety is poorly described, and the risk of worsening gastroesophageal reflux requiring revision may be higher than previously thought. Prior studies comparing sleeve gastrectomy to gastric bypass are limited by low sample size (in randomized trials) and selection bias (in observational studies). METHODS Instrumental variables analysis of commercially insured patients in the IBM MarketScan claims database from 2011 to 2018. We studied patients undergoing bariatric surgery from 2012 to 2016. We identified re-interventions and complications at 30 days and 2 years from surgery using Comprehensive Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9/10 codes. To overcome unmeasured confounding, we use the prior year's sleeve gastrectomy utilization within each state as an instrumental variable-exploiting variation in the timing of payers' decisions to cover sleeve gastrectomy as a natural experiment. RESULTS Among 38,153 patients who underwent bariatric surgery between 2012 and 2016, the share of sleeve gastrectomy rose from 52.6% (2012) to 75% (2016). At 2 years from surgery, patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy had fewer re-interventions (sleeve 9.9%, bypass 15.6%, P < 0.001) and complications (sleeve 6.6%, bypass 9.6%, P = 0.001), and lower overall healthcare spending ($47,891 vs $55,213, P = 0.003), than patients undergoing gastric bypass. However, at the 2-year mark, revisions were slightly more common in sleeve gastrectomy than in gastric bypass (sleeve 0.6%, bypass 0.4%, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In a large cohort of commercially insured patients, sleeve gastrectomy had a superior safety profile to gastric bypass up to 2 years from surgery, even when accounting for selection bias. However, the higher risk of revisions in sleeve gastrectomy merits further exploration.

Background Opioid analgesics are often prescribed to manage pain after bariatric surgery, which may develop into chronic prescription opioid use (CPOU) in opioid-naive patients. Bariatric surgery may affect opioid use in those with or without presurgical CPOU. Objective To compare CPOU persistence and incidence in a large multisite cohort of veterans undergoing bariatric surgery (open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic RYGB, or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) and matched nonsurgical controls. Setting Veterans Administration hospitals. Methods In a retrospective cohort study, we matched 1117 surgical patients with baseline CPOU to 9531 nonsurgical controls, and 2822 surgical patients without CPOU at baseline to 26,392 nonsurgical controls using sequential stratification. CPOU persistence in veterans with baseline CPOU was estimated using generalized estimating equations by procedure type. CPOU incidence in veterans without baseline CPOU was estimated in Cox regression models by procedure type because postoperative pain, complications, and absorption may differ by procedure. Results In veterans with baseline CPOU, postsurgical CPOU declined over time for each surgical procedure; these trends did not differ between surgical patients and nonsurgical controls. In veterans without baseline CPOU, compared with nonsurgical controls, bariatric patients had higher CPOU incidence within 5 years after open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (hazard ratio=1.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.34) or laparoscopic open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (hazard ratio=1.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.41). Veterans undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy had higher CPOU incidence 1 to 5 years after surgery (hazard ratio=1.28; 95% confidence interval: 1.05–1.56) than nonsurgical controls. Conclusions Bariatric surgery was associated with greater risk of CPOU incidence in patients without baseline CPOU but was not associated with greater CPOU persistence.

Summary Objective The purpose of this study was to model weight trajectories over a 5‐year time period (2012–2016) and their association with behavioural and psychosocial characteristics and health care–related experiences using data from the Patient Outcomes Research to Advance Learning (PORTAL) overweight/obesity cohort. Methods Weight trajectories for each eligible patient in the PORTAL overweight/obesity cohort (n = 2864) were identified first using growth modelling; trajectories were then grouped using a hierarchical cluster analysis. Weight trajectory clusters that emerged were compared on demographics, and predictors of cluster membership were examined. Clusters were also compared on responses to a survey assessing health behaviours, quality of life, and health care experience completed in 2015 by 49% of the total sample (n = 1391). Results Seven distinct weight trajectory clusters were identified: (a) significant weight loss then maintenance; (b) higher stable weight; (c) moderate stable weight; (d) steady weight loss then relapse; (e) weight gain then weight loss; (f) steady weight gain then maintenance; and (g) lower stable weight. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index at baseline predicted patient's weight trajectory (P < .001). Over two thirds of patients maintained their weight over the 5‐year period. Significant weight loss then maintenance, weight gain then weight loss, and higher stable weight patients were more likely to report receiving weight counselling from their provider. Patients in the significant weight loss then maintenance and lower stable weight clusters were more likely to be physically active than the other clusters. Conclusion Findings suggest variability in patterns of weight change among adults with overweight or obesity who have access to health care and that these patterns differ on demographic, behavioural and psychosocial factors, and health care experience.

Sleeve gastrectomy is the most widely used bariatric operation; however, its long-term safety is largely unknown.To compare the risk of mortality, complications, reintervention, and health care use 5 years after sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass.This retrospective cohort study included adult patients in a national Medicare claims database who underwent sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2018. Instrumental variables survival analysis was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of outcomes up to 5 years after surgery.Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.The main outcome was risk of mortality, complications, and reinterventions up to 5 years after surgery. Secondary outcomes were health care use after surgery, including hospitalization, emergency department (ED) use, and total spending.Of 95 405 patients undergoing bariatric surgery, 57 003 (60%) underwent sleeve gastrectomy (mean [SD] age, 57.1 [11.8] years), of whom 42 299 (74.2%) were women; 124 (0.2%) were Asian; 10 101 (17.7%), Black; 1951 (3.4%), Hispanic; 314 (0.6%), North American Native; 43 194 (75.8%), White; 534 (0.9%), of other race or ethnicity; and 785 (1.4%), of unknown race or ethnicity. A total of 38 402 patients (40%) underwent gastric bypass (mean [SD] age, 55.9 [11.7] years), of whom 29 050 (75.7%) were women; 109 (0.3%), Asian; 6038 (15.7%), Black; 1215 (3.2%), Hispanic; 278 (0.7%), North American Native; 29 986 (78.1%), White; 373 (1.0%), of other race or ethnicity; and 404 (1.1%), of unknown race or ethnicity. Compared with patients undergoing gastric bypass, at 5 years after surgery, patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy had a lower cumulative incidence of mortality (4.27%; 95% CI, 4.25%-4.30% vs 5.67%; 95% CI, 5.63%-5.69%), complications (22.10%; 95% CI, 22.06%-22.13% vs 29.03%; 95% CI, 28.99%-29.08%), and reintervention (25.23%; 95% CI, 25.19%-25.27% vs 33.57%; 95% CI, 33.52%-33.63%). Conversely, patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy had a higher cumulative incidence of surgical revision at 5 years (2.91%; 95% CI, 2.90%-2.93% vs 1.46%; 95% CI, 1.45%-1.47%). The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of all-cause hospitalization and ED use was lower for patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy at 1 year (hospitalization, aHR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.80-0.86; ED use, aHR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.84-0.90) and 3 years (hospitalization, aHR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.90-0.98; ED use, aHR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.97) after surgery but similar between groups at 5 years (hospitalization, aHR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.94-1.04; ED use, aHR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-1.01). Total health care spending among patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy was lower at 1 year after surgery ($28 706; 95% CI, $27 866-$29 545 vs $30 663; 95% CI, $29 739-$31 587), but similar between groups at 3 ($57 411; 95% CI, $55 239-$59 584 vs $58 581; 95% CI, $56 551-$60 611) and 5 years ($86 584; 95% CI, $80 183-$92 984 vs $85 762; 95% CI, $82 600-$88 924).In a large cohort of patients undergoing bariatric surgery, sleeve gastrectomy was associated with a lower long-term risk of mortality, complications, and reinterventions but a higher long-term risk of surgical revision. Understanding the comparative safety of these operations may better inform patients and surgeons in their decision-making.

OBJECTIVE Health system data were assessed for how well they can estimate obesity prevalence in census tracts. METHODS Clinical visit data were available from two large health systems (Kaiser Permanente Washington and University of Washington Medicine) in King County, Washington, as were census tract-level obesity prevalence estimates from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The health system data were geocoded to identify each patient's tract of residence, and the cross-sectional concordance between census tract-level obesity prevalence estimates computed from the two health systems in 2005 to 2006 and the concordance between University of Washington Medicine and BRFSS from 2012 to 2016 were assessed. RESULTS The spatial distribution of obesity was similar between the health systems (Spearman r = 0.63). The University of Washington Medicine estimates of rank order correlated well with BRFSS estimates (Spearman r = 0.85), though prevalence estimates from BRFSS were lower (mean obesity prevalence = 26% for University of Washington Medicine versus 20% for BRFSS, Wilcoxon rank sum test p < 0.001). Across all data sources, obesity was more prevalent in tracts with less educational attainment. CONCLUSIONS Health system clinical weight data can reliably replicate census tract-level spatial patterns in the ranking of obesity prevalence. Health system data may be an efficient resource for geographic obesity surveillance.

OBJECTIVE There are few studies testing the amount of weight loss necessary to achieve initial remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) following bariatric surgery and no published studies with use of weight loss to predict initial T2DM remission in sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS With Cox proportional hazards models we examined the relationship between initial T2DM remission and percent total weight loss (%TWL) after bariatric surgery. Categories of %TWL were included in the model as time-varying covariates. RESULTS Of patients (N = 5,928), 73% were female; mean age was 49.8 ± 10.3 years and BMI 43.8 ± 6.92 kg/m2, and 57% had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Over an average follow-up of 5.9 years, 71% of patients experienced initial remission of T2DM (mean time to remission 1.0 year). With 0–5% TWL used as the reference group in Cox proportional hazards models, patients were more likely to remit with each 5% increase in TWL until 20% TWL (hazard ratio range 1.97–2.92). When categories >25% TWL were examined, all patients had a likelihood of initial remission similar to that of 20–25% TWL. Patients who achieved >20% TWL were more likely to achieve initial T2DM remission than patients with 0–5% TWL, even if they were using insulin at the time of surgery. CONCLUSIONS Weight loss after bariatric surgery is strongly associated with initial T2DM remission; however, above a threshold of 20% TWL, rates of initial T2DM remission did not increase substantially. Achieving this threshold is also associated with initial remission even in patients who traditionally experience lower rates of remission, such as patients taking insulin.

OBJECTIVE To examine racial/ethnic disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes by BMI category. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a consortium of three U.S. integrated health care systems, 4,906,238 individuals aged ≥20 years during 2012–2013 were included. Diabetes and prediabetes were ascertained by diagnosis and laboratory results; antihyperglycemic medications were also included for diabetes ascertainment. RESULTS The age-standardized diabetes and prediabetes prevalence estimates were 15.9% and 33.4%, respectively. Diabetes but not prediabetes prevalence increased across BMI categories among all racial/ethnic groups (P for trend < 0.001). Racial/ethnic minorities reached a given diabetes prevalence at lower BMIs than whites; Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders and Asians had a diabetes prevalence of 24.6% (95% CI 24.1–25.2%) in overweight and 26.5% (26.3–26.8%) in obese class 1, whereas whites had a prevalence of 23.7% (23.5–23.8%) in obese class 2. The age-standardized prediabetes prevalence estimates in overweight among Hispanics (35.6% [35.4–35.7%]), Asians (38.1% [38.0–38.3%]), and Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (37.5% [36.9–38.2%]) were similar to those in obese class 4 among whites (35.3% [34.5–36.0%]), blacks (36.8% [35.5–38.2%]), and American Indians/Alaskan Natives (34.2% [29.6–38.8%]). In adjusted models, the strength of association between BMI and diabetes was highest among whites (relative risk comparing obese class 4 with normal weight 7.64 [95% CI 7.50–7.79]) and lowest among blacks (3.16 [3.05–3.27]). The association between BMI and prediabetes was less pronounced. CONCLUSIONS Racial/ethnic minorities had a higher burden of diabetes and prediabetes at lower BMIs than whites, suggesting the role of factors other than obesity in racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes and prediabetes risk and highlighting the need for tailored screening and prevention strategies.

To compare the long-term risks of reintervention following sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in a large surgical cohort.The use of SG has increased dramatically relative to RYGB for the treatment of obesity. However, long-term risks following SG compared with RYGB have not been adequately defined in a large population-based study.A retrospective longitudinal cohort study of all adult health-plan members undergoing SG or RYGB for obesity in a multistate integrated health care system from January 2005 through September 2015. The risks of nutritional, endoscopic, radiologic, and surgical reintervention as well as the overall risk of any reinterventions at 1, 3, and 5 years were identified using diagnosis and procedure codes from comprehensive electronic medical records.The study included 15,319 patients who underwent SG and 19,954 patients who underwent RYGB with a follow-up of 79.2%. The overall risk of any reintervention at 5 years was 21.3% for SG and 28.3% for RYGB (P0.0001). After adjustment, SG was associated with fewer reinterventions through 5 years than RYGB (hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.84). When comparing subcategories, SG also had a lower risk of nutritional, endoscopic, radiologic, and surgical reinterventions when examined versus RYGB. The findings for risks of reinterventions were consistent across clinical subgroups.SG has significantly lower risk of reintervention in all categories studied when compared with RYGB at 5-year follow-up. The long-term safety profile of LSG compared with RYGB should be an essential part of the discussion in patient-centered decision making when choosing between bariatric procedure options.

This retrospective cohort study examined whether bariatric surgery is associated with reduced risk of breast cancer among pre- and postmenopausal women.Obesity is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, but the impact of weight loss on breast cancer risk has been difficult to quantify.The cohort included obese (body mass index ≥35 kg/m) patients enrolled in an integrated health care delivery system between 2005 and 2012 (with follow-up through 2014). Female bariatric surgery patients (N = 17,998) were matched on body mass index, age, study site, and comorbidity index to 53,889 women with no bariatric surgery. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine incident breast cancer up to 10 years after bariatric surgery. Pre- and postmenopausal women were examined separately, and further classified by estrogen receptor (ER) status.The analysis included 301 premenopausal and 399 postmenopausal breast cancer cases. In multivariable adjusted models, bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced risk of both premenopausal (HR = 0.72, 95% CI, 0.54-0.94) and postmenopausal (HR = 0.55, 95% CI, 0.42-0.72) breast cancer. Among premenopausal women, the effect of bariatric surgery was more pronounced among ER-negative cases (HR = 0.36, 95% CI, 0.16-0.79). Among postmenopausal women, the effect was more pronounced in ER-positive cases (HR = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.39-0.70).Bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer among severely obese women. These findings have significant public health relevance because the prevalence of obesity continues to rise, and few modifiable breast cancer risk factors have been identified, especially for premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this work was to study weight loss and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or death associated with longer-term phentermine use. METHODS Using electronic health record data, 13,972 adults were identified with a first phentermine fill in 2010 to 2015, creating exposure categories according to a patient's duration of use (referent: ≤ 3 months). Multivariable linear models were used to compare percent weight loss across categories at 6, 12, and 24 months, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare risk of composite CVD or death, up to 3 years after starting phentermine. RESULTS The cohort was 84% female and 45% white, with a mean (SD) baseline age 43.5 (10.7) years and BMI of 37.8 (7.2) kg/m2 . In multivariable models, longer-term users of phentermine experienced more weight loss; patients using continuously for > 12 months lost 7.4% more than the referent group at 24 months (P

To determine the impact of an intensive perioperative nutritional and lifestyle support protocol on long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery. A retrospective observational study was conducted of 955 patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery between 2005 and 2015. Patients were divided into two cohorts: (1) 2005 through August 2013: these 767 patients were required to participate in the intensive telephone-based nutritional support program from 8 weeks preoperative through 44 weeks postoperative; (2) after August 2013, the program was discontinued and 188 patients did not have intensive telephonic nutritional support. Inverse probability weighting was used to obtain weight loss estimates at 1 and 3 years postoperative. Time-to-event analyses were used to investigate hospitalization rates postoperative. Poisson models were used to investigate healthcare utilization. Patients who participated in the program exhibited 1.97% (95% CI 0.7, 3.3) greater %TWL at 1 year and 2.2% (95% CI −0.3, 4.1) greater %TWL at 3 years postoperative than patients who did not participate. Secondary analyses indicated participation in the program was associated with 44% shorter time to first hospitalization postoperative (p

There is limited Level-1 evidence from well-powered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining improved glycemic control after metabolic surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. ARMMS-T2D is a multi-center consortium conducting a follow-up study of 4 merged RCTs in 256 patients with baseline Class 1-3 obesity and T2D, randomly assigned to metabolic surgery (MS;Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric banding) or intensive Medical/Lifestyle Intervention (MLI). Three years after randomization, T2D remission rates were higher after MS than MLI (37.5%, 60/160 vs. 2.6%, 2/76, respectively, P

Purpose Obesity is a highly prevalent condition with severe clinical burden. Bariatric procedures are an important and expanding treatment option. This study compared short-(30-day composite adverse events) and long-term (intervention/operation, endoscopy, hospitalization, and mortality up to 5 years) safety outcomes associated with three bariatric surgical procedures. Materials and Methods This observational cohort study replicated an electronic health record study comparing short- and long-term problems associated with three bariatric surgical procedures between January 1, 2006, and September 30, 2015, within a Health Plan Research Network. Results Of 95,251 adults, 34,240 (36%) underwent adjustable gastric banding (AGB), 36,206 (38%) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and 24,805 (26%) sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Median (interquartile range) years of follow-up was 3.3 (1.4–5.0) (AGB), 2.5 (1.0–4.6) (RYGB), and 1.1 (0.5–2.1) (SG). Overall mean (SD) age was 44.2 (11.4) years. The cohort was predominantly female (76%). Thirty-day composite adverse events occurred more frequently following RYGB (3.8%) than AGB (3.1%) and SG (2.8%). Operation/intervention was less likely in SG than in RYGB (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 0.87; 95%CI, 0.80–0.96; P=0.003), and more likely in AGB than in RYGB (AHR, 2.10; 95%CI, 2.00–2.21; PP<0.001; SG vs. RYGB, AHR=0.79; 95%CI, 0.76–0.83; PP=0.004; AGB vs. RYGB: AHR, 0.49; 95%CI, 0.43–0.56; P=0.001). Conclusions Interventions, operations, and hospitalizations were more often associated with AGB and RYGB than SG while RYGB had the lowest risk for revision. Graphical abstract

Importance Bariatric surgical procedures have been associated with increased risk of unhealthy alcohol use, but no previous research has evaluated the long-term alcohol-related risks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), currently the most used bariatric procedure. No US-based study has compared long-term alcohol-related outcomes between patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and those who have not. Objective To evaluate the changes over time in alcohol use and unhealthy alcohol use from 2 years before to 8 years after a bariatric surgical procedure among individuals with or without preoperative unhealthy alcohol use. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic health record (EHR) data on military veterans who underwent a bariatric surgical procedure at any of the bariatric centers in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system between October 1, 2008, and September 30, 2016. Surgical patients without unhealthy alcohol use at baseline were matched using sequential stratification to nonsurgical control patients without unhealthy alcohol use at baseline, and surgical patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline were matched to nonsurgical patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline. Data were analyzed in February 2020. Interventions LSG (n = 1684) and RYGB (n = 924). Main Outcomes and Measures Mean alcohol use, unhealthy alcohol use, and no alcohol use were estimated using scores from the validated 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), which had been documented in the VA EHR. Alcohol outcomes were estimated with mixed-effects models. Results A total of 2608 surgical patients were included in the final cohort (1964 male [75.3%] and 644 female [24.7%] veterans. Mean (SD) age of surgical patients was 53.0 (9.9) years and 53.6 (9.9) years for the matched nonsurgical patients. Among patients without baseline unhealthy alcohol use, 1539 patients who underwent an LSG were matched to 14 555 nonsurgical control patients and 854 patients who underwent an RYGB were matched to 8038 nonsurgical control patients. In patients without baseline unhealthy alcohol use, the mean AUDIT-C scores and the probability of unhealthy alcohol use both increased significantly 3 to 8 years after an LSG or an RYGB, compared with control patients. Eight years after an LSG, the probability of unhealthy alcohol use was higher in surgical vs control patients (7.9% [95% CI, 6.4-9.5] vs 4.5% [95% CI, 4.1-4.9]; difference, 3.4% [95% CI, 1.8-5.0])). Similarly, 8 years after an RYGB, the probability of unhealthy alcohol use was higher in surgical vs control patients (9.2% [95% CI, 8.0-10.3] vs 4.4% [95% CI, 4.1-4.6]; difference, 4.8% [95% CI, 3.6-5.9]). The probability of no alcohol use also decreased significantly 5 to 8 years after both procedures for surgical vs control patients. Among patients with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline, prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use was higher for patients who underwent an RYGB than matched controls. Conclusions and Relevance In this multi-site cohort study of predominantly male patients, among those who did not have unhealthy alcohol use in the 2 years before bariatric surgery, the probability of developing unhealthy alcohol use increased significantly 3-8 years after bariatric procedures compared with matched controls during follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality can be reduced by effective screening and/or treatment. However, the influence of health care systems on disparities among insured patients is largely unexplored. METHODS: To evaluate insured patients with CRC diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 across 6 diverse US health care systems in the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Patient Outcomes Research To Advance Learning (PORTAL) CRC cohort, we contrasted CRC stage; CRC mortality; all-cause mortality; and influences of demographics, stage, comorbidities, and treatment between health systems. RESULTS: Among 16,211 patients with CRC, there were significant differences between health care systems in CRC stage at diagnosis, CRC-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality. The unadjusted risk of CRC mortality varied from 27% lower to 21% higher than the reference system (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval = 0.66–0.80 to HR = 1.21, 95% confidence interval = 1.05–1.40; p < 0.01 across systems). Significant differences persisted after adjustment for demographics and comorbidities (p < 0.01); however, adjustment for stage eliminated significant differences (p = 0.24). All-cause mortality among patients with CRC differed approximately 30% between health care systems (HR = 0.89–1.17; p < 0.01). Adjustment for age eliminated significant differences (p = 0.48). DISCUSSION: Differences in CRC survival between health care systems were largely explained by stage at diagnosis, not demographics, comorbidity, or treatment. Given that stage is strongly related to early detection, these results suggest that variation in CRC screening systems represents a modifiable systems-level factor for reducing disparities in CRC survival.

PURPOSE: Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity but currently only 1-2% of all eligible patients undergo surgery each year. This study examined which factors were associated with a patient receiving bariatric surgery after referral in a real-world healthcare setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current study used the baseline survey and electronic medical record (EMR) data from the Bariatric Experience Long Term (BELONG) study (n = 1,975). Predictors of who did (n = 1,680) and who did not (n = 295) have surgery were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Participants (n = 1,975; 42.4% response rate) were primarily women (84%) and either non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic (60%). In the fully adjusted multivariate model, the strongest predictors of having surgery were being a woman (OR = 3.17; 95% CI = 2.15,4.68; p < .001) and losing at least 5% of their body weight in the year before surgery (OR = 3.16; 95% CI = 2.28,4.38; p < .001). The strongest predictors of not having surgery were a BMI ≥ 50 kg/m(2) (OR = .39; 95% CI = .27,.56; p < .001) and having a higher physical comorbidity burden (OR = .84; 95% CI = .75,.94; p = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Practices such as 5%-10% total weight loss before surgery and selection of patients with safer operative risk profiles (younger with lower comorbidity burden) may inadvertently contribute to under-utilization of bariatric surgery among some demographic subpopulations who could most benefit from this intervention.

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity (body mass index >40), helping individuals lose, on average, 25%–29% of their body weight over the first year. However, many patients begin to plateau and regain weight within 12–24 months, and 20% of patients begin to regain weight within 6 months postsurgery. As physical activity (PA) is an important predictor of weight loss and maintenance postsurgery, there is a need for scalable, effective lifestyle interventions to help bariatric patients increase PA in order to maximize their weight loss and maintenance. To assess feasibility of using mobile health (mHealth) tools to support PA postsurgery, we conducted a quality-improvement optimization pilot of BariFit, an mHealth intervention that combines commercial devices and custom text messages. Fifty-one bariatric patients enrolled in a 16-week optimization pilot of BariFit. To assess feasibility, pre–post changes in PA were assessed using activPAL. In addition, the pilot randomized, using a 2 × 2 factorial design, two adaptive approaches to daily step goals (variable and 60th percentile goals) and provision of rest days (yes/no), and microrandomized provision of SMS-delivered activity suggestions five times a day for each participant. Adherence to using study equipment was over 95% at 16 weeks. Participants increased PA by 1,866 steps from baseline to end-of-study (p < .007). Participants who received variable step goals averaged 1,141 more steps per day (p = .096) than those who received 60th percentile goals. Activity suggestions had no effect. mHealth interventions are feasible for supporting PA postbariatric surgery.

Background Obesity and inactivity are common and burdensome for people with lower extremity amputation (LEA). The extent to which home-based physical activity/weight management programs are effective and safe for people with LEA is unknown. Translating effective interventions for understudied disability groups is needed. Objective To test the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a weight management and physical activity intervention and obtain preliminary efficacy estimates for changes in weight, body composition, and physical functioning. Methods Eligibility criteria included: LEA ≥1 year prior, 18–69 years of age, overweight or obese and living in the Seattle area. The intervention arm received self-monitoring tools (e.g., pedometer, scale) and written materials, a single exercise counseling home visit by a physical therapist, and up to 11 telephone calls from a health coach over 20 weeks that involved motivational interviewing to set specific, attainable, and measurable goals. The self-directed control group received the same tools and materials but no home visit or coaching calls. Results Nineteen individuals consented to participate, 15 were randomized (mean age = 56, 73% male, 80% transtibial amputation) and 11 completed 20-week follow-up assessments. The intervention was acceptable and safe. Coached participants had greater decreases in waist circumference (mean difference between groups over 20 weeks, baseline values carried forward: −4.3 cm, 95% CI -8.2, −0.4, p = 0.03) and fat mass (−2.1 kg, 95% CI -3.8, −0.4, p = 0.02). Conclusions The home-based intervention was promising in terms of efficacy, safety and acceptability. Inclusion of multiple trial centers and increased use of technology may facilitate recruitment and retention.

Objective To investigate weight trajectories among patients with severe obesity undergoing sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and nonsurgical treatment. Background Although bariatric procedures are associated with substantial weight loss, few studies have compared surgical outcomes to nonsurgical treatment, particularly for SG. Methods In this retrospective, matched cohort study, adult patients with body mass index ≥35 kg/m who underwent RYGB or SG procedures from January 2005 through September 2015 were matched to 87,965 nonsurgical patients. Hierarchical linear models were used to investigate percent total weight loss (%TWL) and regain at 5 years among RYGB, SG, and nonsurgical patients, and at 10 years for RYGB and nonsurgical patients. Results Among 13,900 SG, 17,258 RYGB, and 87,965 nonsurgical patients, the 5-year follow-up rate was 70.9%, 72.0%, and 64.5%, respectively. At 1 year, RYGB patients had 28.4%TWL (95% confidence interval: 28.2, 28.5), SG 23.0%TWL (22.8, 23.2), and nonsurgical patients 0.2%TWL (0.1, 0.4). At 5 years, RYGB had 21.7%TWL (21.5, 22.0), SG 16.0%TWL (15.4, 16.6), and nonsurgical patients 2.2%TWL (2.0, 2.5). After 5 years, 3.7% of RYGB and 10.1% of SG patients had regained weight to within 5% of baseline. At 10 years, RYGB patients had 20.2%TWL (19.3, 21.0) and nonsurgical patients 4.8%TWL (4.0, 5.5). Conclusions In this study, patients with severe obesity who underwent SG and RYGB lost significantly more weight at 5 years than nonsurgical patients. Weight regain was common after surgery but regain to within 5% of baseline was rare.

Sengwee Toh,1 Robert Wellman,2 R Yates Coley,2 Casie Horgan,1 Jessica Sturtevant,1 Erick Moyneur,3 Cheri Janning,4 Roy Pardee,2 Karen J Coleman,5 David Arterburn,2 Kathleen McTigue,6 Jane Anau,2 Andrea J Cook2 On behalf of the PCORnet Bariatric Study Collaborative 1Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA; 2Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; 3StatLog Econometrics, Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada; 4Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Durham, NC, USA; 5Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA; 6Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Purpose: Sharing of detailed individual-level data continues to pose challenges in multicenter studies. This issue can be addressed in part by using analytic methods that require only summary-level information to perform the desired multivariable-adjusted analysis. We examined the feasibility and empirical validity of 1) conducting multivariable-adjusted distributed linear regression and 2) combining distributed linear regression with propensity scores, in a large distributed data network.Patients and methods: We compared percent total weight loss 1-year postsurgery between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy procedure among 43,110 patients from 36 health systems in the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. We adjusted for baseline demographic and clinical variables as individual covariates, deciles of propensity scores, or both, in three separate outcome regression models. We used distributed linear regression, a method that requires only summary-level information (specifically, sums of squares and cross products matrix) from sites, to fit the three ordinary least squares linear regression models. A comparison set of analyses that used pooled deidentified individual-level data from sites served as the reference.Results: Distributed linear regression produced results identical to those from the corresponding pooled individual-level data analysis for all variables in all three models. The maximum numericaldifference in the parameter estimate or standard error for all the variables was 3×10−11 across three models.Conclusion: Distributed linear regression analysis is a feasible and valid analytic method in multicenter studies for one-time continuous outcomes. Combining distributed regression with propensity scores via modeling offers more privacy protection and analytic flexibility. Keywords: distributed regression, propensity score, distributed data networks, privacy-protecting methods

Background Bariatric surgery improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but less is known about microvascular outcomes. Objective To investigate the relationship between bariatric surgery and incident microvascular complications of T2DM. Design Retrospective matched cohort study from 2005 to 2011 with follow-up through September 2015. Setting 4 integrated health systems in the United States. Participants Patients aged 19 to 79 years with T2DM who had bariatric surgery (n = 4024) were matched on age, sex, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c level, insulin use, diabetes duration, and intensity of health care use up to 3 nonsurgical participants (n = 11 059). Intervention Bariatric procedures (76% gastric bypass, 17% sleeve gastrectomy, and 7% adjustable gastric banding) compared with usual care. Measurements Adjusted Cox regression analysis investigated time to incident microvascular disease, defined as first occurrence of diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, or nephropathy. Results Median follow-up was 4.3 years for both surgical and nonsurgical patients. Bariatric surgery was associated with significantly lower risk for incident microvascular disease at 5 years (16.9% for surgical vs. 34.7% for nonsurgical patients; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.41 [95% CI, 0.34 to 0.48]). Bariatric surgery was associated with lower cumulative incidence at 5 years of diabetic neuropathy (7.2% for surgical vs. 21.4% for nonsurgical patients; HR, 0.37 [CI, 0.30 to 0.47]), nephropathy (4.9% for surgical vs. 10.0% for nonsurgical patients; HR, 0.41 [CI, 0.29 to 0.58]), and retinopathy (7.2% for surgical vs. 11.2% for nonsurgical patients; HR, 0.55 [CI, 0.42 to 0.73]). Limitation Electronic health record databases could misclassify microvascular disease status for some patients. Conclusion In this large, multicenter study of adults with T2DM, bariatric surgery was associated with lower overall incidence of microvascular disease (including lower risk for neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy) than usual care. Primary funding source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Designing optimal insurance is important to ensure access to care for individuals that are most likely to benefit. We examined the potential impact of lowering patient cost-sharing for bariatric procedures.After defining 10 subgroups by body mass index (BMI) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we analyzed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey datasets to estimate the prevalence of each subgroup. The MarketScan claims database provided utilization rates and costs of bariatric procedures. Using an existing cost-effectiveness model, we estimated the economic value of bariatric procedures under various cost-sharing levels (0%-25%) with 2 frameworks: (1) a traditional cost-effectiveness analysis and (2) a new approach that incorporates utilization effects across subgroups.The utilization rate was higher among individuals with T2DM than those without T2DM (90.4 vs. 59.1 cases per 100,000) for bariatric procedures, which were more cost-effective for those with T2DM and a higher BMI. After accounting for utilization effects, the economic value of bariatric surgery was $177 and $63 per individual from a lifetime and a 5-year time horizon, respectively. Under no patient cost-sharing for individuals with BMI≥40 and T2DM, utilization rates were expected to increase by 21 cases per 100,000, resulting in additional $2 realized value per patient and $7.07 million in returns at the US population level.Cost-sharing is a barrier to uptake of a clinical and cost-effective treatment for severe obesity. Reducing cost-sharing for patients with severe obesity and T2DM could potentially increase the utilization of bariatric procedures and result in greater economic value to payers.

Older adults with obesity spend the majority of their waking hours sedentary. Given substantial barriers to regular physical activity in this population, approaches to reduce sedentary time could be an effective health promotion strategy. We present the protocol of a randomized controlled trial to reduce sitting time in older adults with a body mass index of 30 kg/m(2) or above. Participants (N = 284) will be randomized to receive a sitting reduction intervention (termed I-STAND) or a healthy living focused attention control condition. I-STAND includes 10 contacts with a health coach (10 sessions total) and participants receive a wrist-worn prompting device and portable standing desk. The healthy living condition includes 10 sessions with a health coach to set goals around various topics relating to healthy aging. Participants receive their assigned intervention for 6 months. After 6 months, those receiving the I-STAND condition are re-randomized to receive five booster health coaching sessions by ‘phone or no further contact; healthy living participants receive no further contact and those in both conditions are followed for an additional 6 months. Measurements initially included wearing an activPAL device and completing several biometric tests (e.g., blood pressure, HbA1c), at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months; however, during the COVID-19 pandemic we shifted to remote assessments and were unable to collect all of these measures. The primary outcomes remained activPAL-assessed sitting time and blood pressure. Recruitment is anticipated to be completed in 2022.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether publication of clinical evidence was associated with increased utilization of bariatric surgery. We systematically searched the literature (1994 to 2008) to identify studies on bariatric surgery. We sorted the evidence by publication date and citation frequency. We linked the published evidence to data from the Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA) on 1421 bariatric surgery cases and 45,665 medically managed patients with severe obesity to assess the association between evidence and use of bariatric surgery. We used an interrupted time series analysis with a control group to estimate the association. In secondary analyses, we examined the association with accumulating major clinical evidence, the type of evidence, and stratification by influential tiers. A total of 9913 papers were identified and the top 100 cited papers were initially selected. After inclusion criteria were applied, 35 papers were selected. We selected the fourth quarter in 2004 as the exposure based on publication for the two studies with the largest number of citations. Compared to the projected secular trend, the publication of those two major articles was associated with 50 additional cases of bariatric surgery performed per 100,000 eligible individuals per quarter. In our secondary analyses, higher quality evidence (e.g., RCTs) and more highly cited evidence were each associated with a greater probability of receiving bariatric surgery. For patient members of the KPWA with severe obesity, publication of clinical evidence was associated with increased use of bariatric surgery. This finding suggests that publication of higher quality positive clinical evidence may influence utilization.

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the cost and health care utilization of patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) randomized into either Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery or an intensive lifestyle and medical intervention (ILMI). Methods This analysis (N = 745) is based on 2-year follow-up of a small randomized controlled trial (RCT); adult patients with obesity and T2DM were recruited between 2011 and 2012 from Kaiser Permanente Washington. Comparisons were made for patients randomized into either RYGB (N = 15) or ILMI (N = 17). Results There were no significant cost savings for RYGB versus ILMI patients through the follow-up years. Pharmacy cost was lower for RYGB versus ILMI patients by about $900 in year 2 versus year 0; however, inpatient and emergency room costs were higher for surgery patients in follow-up years relative to year 0. Median total cost for nonrandomized patients was higher in year 0 and in year 2 compared to randomized patients. Conclusions Bariatric surgery is not cost saving in the short term. Moreover, the costs of patients who enter into RCTs of RYGB may differ from the costs of those who do not enter RCTs, suggesting use of caution when using such data to draw inferences about the general population with obesity.

Objective To compare bariatric surgery outcomes according to preoperative mental illness category. Methods Electronic health record data from several US healthcare systems were used to compare outcomes of four groups of patients who underwent bariatric surgery in 2012 and 2013. These included the following: people with (1) no mental illness, (2) mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety, (3) severe depression or anxiety, and (4) bipolar, psychosis, or schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Groups were compared on weight loss trajectory using generalized estimating equations using B-spline bases and on all-cause emergency department visits and hospital days using zero-inflated Poisson and negative binomial regression up to 2 years after surgery. Models were adjusted for demographic and health covariates, including baseline healthcare use. Results Among 8,192 patients, mean age was 44.3 (10.7) years, 79.9% were female, and 45.6% were white. Fifty-seven percent had preoperative mental illness. There were no differences between groups for weight loss, but patients with preoperative severe depression or anxiety or bipolar, psychosis, or schizophrenia spectrum disorders had higher follow-up levels of emergency department visits and hospital days compared to those with no mental illness. Conclusions In this multicenter study, mental illness was not associated with differential weight loss after bariatric surgery, but additional research could focus on reducing acute care use among these patients.

In 2016, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute funded the National Patient Centered Clinical Research Network (PCORnet) Bariatric Study (PBS). Understanding the experience of postoperative patients was a key component of this study. Nine focus groups were conducted in Southern California, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio and in a national advocacy conference for patients with obesity. Participants were identified and recruited in both clinical and community settings. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using an iterative inductive-deductive approach to identify global overarching themes. There were 76 focus group participants. Participants were mostly women (81.4%), had primarily undergone gastric sleeve (47.0%), were non-Hispanic white (51.4%), had some college education (44.3%), and made $100,000 annual income or less (65.7%). Qualitative findings included negative reactions patients received from friends, family, and co-workers once they disclosed that they had bariatric surgery to lose weight; and barriers to follow-up care included insurance coverage, emotional and situational challenges, and physical pain limiting mobility. These findings confirm the other qualitative findings in this area. The approach to bariatric surgery should be expanded to provide long-term comprehensive care that includes in-depth postoperative lifetime monitoring of emotional and physical health.

Summary The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is wreaking havoc on society, especially health-care systems, including disrupting bariatric and metabolic surgery. The current limitations on accessibility to non-urgent care undermine postoperative monitoring of patients who have undergone such operations. Furthermore, like most elective surgery, new bariatric and metabolic procedures are being postponed worldwide during the pandemic. When the outbreak abates, a backlog of people seeking these operations will exist. Hence, surgical candidates face prolonged delays of beneficial treatment. Because of the progressive nature of obesity and diabetes, delaying surgery increases risks for morbidity and mortality, thus requiring strategies to mitigate harm. The risk of harm, however, varies among patients, depending on the type and severity of their comorbidities. A triaging strategy is therefore needed. The traditional weight-centric patient-selection criteria do not favour cases based on actual clinical needs. In this Personal View, experts from the Diabetes Surgery Summit consensus conference series provide guidance for the management of patients while surgery is delayed and for postoperative surveillance. We also offer a strategy to prioritise bariatric and metabolic surgery candidates on the basis of the diseases that are most likely to be ameliorated postoperatively. Although our system will be particularly germane in the immediate future, it also provides a framework for long-term clinically meaningful prioritisation.

This cohort study compares the risk of operative and nonoperative interventions up to 4 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass vs vertical sleeve gastrectomy in patient groups matched on US region, year of surgery, body mass index category, and type 2 diabetes status., Key Points Question Do patients have greater risk of subsequent operative intervention after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG)? Findings Among 13 027 patients in this cohort study, compared with matched counterparts undergoing RYGB, patients undergoing VSG had lower overall risk of subsequent operative and nonoperative interventions, including biliary procedures, abdominal wall hernia repair, other abdominal operations, and endoscopy, up to 4 years after surgery. Meaning Patients deciding between RYGB and VSG should consider not only the clinical effectiveness of these 2 procedures but also the risk for subsequent operative and nonoperative interventions., Importance There are few nationwide studies comparing the risk of reintervention after contemporary bariatric procedures. Objective To compare the risk of intervention after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) vs vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used a nationwide US commercial insurance claims database. Adults aged 18 to 64 years who underwent a first RYGB or VSG procedure between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2017, were matched on US region, year of surgery, most recent presurgery body mass index (BMI) category (based on diagnosis codes), and baseline type 2 diabetes. The prematch pool included 4496 patients undergoing RYGB and 8627 patients undergoing VSG, and the final weighted matched sample included 4476 patients undergoing RYGB and 8551 patients undergoing VSG. Exposures Bariatric surgery procedure type (RYGB vs VSG). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was any abdominal operative intervention after the index procedure. Secondary outcomes included the following subtypes of operative intervention: biliary procedures, abdominal wall hernia repair, bariatric conversion or revision, and other abdominal operations. Nonoperative outcomes included endoscopy and enteral access. Time to first event was compared using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression modeling. Results Among 13 027 patients, the mean (SD) age was 44.4 (10.3) years, and 74.1% were female; 13.7% had a preoperative BMI between 30 and 39.9, 45.8% had a preoperative BMI between 40 and 49.9, and 24.2% had a preoperative BMI of at least 50. Patients were followed up for up to 4 years after surgery (median, 1.6 years; interquartile range, 0.7-3.2 years), with 41.9% having at least 2 years of follow-up and 16.3% having at least 4 years of follow-up. Patients undergoing VSG were less likely to have any subsequent operative intervention than matched patients undergoing RYGB (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.72-0.89) and similarly were less likely to undergo biliary procedures (aHR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90), abdominal wall hernia repair (aHR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.47-0.75), other abdominal operations (aHR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.61-0.82), and endoscopy (aHR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.49-0.59) or have enteral access placed (aHR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39-0.86). Patients undergoing VSG were more likely to undergo bariatric conversion or revision (aHR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.19-2.80). Conclusions and Relevance In this nationwide study, patients undergoing VSG appeared to be less likely than matched patients undergoing RYGB to experience subsequent abdominal operative interventions, except for bariatric conversion or revision procedures. Patients considering bariatric surgery should be aware of the increased risk of subsequent procedures associated with RYGB vs VSG as part of shared decision-making around procedure choice.

Importance Bariatric surgery has been associated with improvements in health in patients with severe obesity; however, it is unclear whether these health benefits translate into lower health care expenditures. Objective To examine 10-year health care expenditures in a large, multisite retrospective cohort study of veterans with severe obesity who did and did not undergo bariatric surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 9954 veterans with severe obesity between January 1, 2000, and September 30, 2011, were identified from veterans affairs (VA) electronic health records. Of those, 2498 veterans who underwent bariatric surgery were allocated to the surgery cohort. Sequential stratification was used to match each patient in the surgery cohort with up to 3 patients who had not undergone bariatric surgery but were of the same sex, race/ethnicity, diabetes status, and VA regional network and were closest in age, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), and comorbidities. A total of 7456 patients were identified and allocated to the nonsurgery (control) cohort. The VA health care expenditures among the surgery and nonsurgery cohorts were estimated using regression models. Data were analyzed from July to August 2018 and in April 2019. Interventions The bariatric surgical procedures (n = 2498) included in this study were Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (1842 [73.7%]), sleeve gastrectomy (381 [15.3%]), adjustable gastric banding (249 [10.0%]), and other procedures (26 [1.0%]). Main Outcomes and Measures The study measured total, outpatient, inpatient, and outpatient pharmacy expenditures from 3 years before surgery to 10 years after surgery, excluding expenditures associated with the initial bariatric surgical procedure. Results Among 9954 veterans with severe obesity, 7387 (74.2%) were men; the mean (SD) age was 52.3 (8.8) years for the surgery cohort and 52.5 (8.7) years for the nonsurgery cohort. Mean total expenditures for the surgery cohort were $5093 (95% CI, $4811-$5391) at 7 to 12 months before surgery, which increased to $7448 (95% CI, $6989-$7936) at 6 months after surgery. Postsurgical expenditures decreased to $6692 (95% CI, $6197-$7226) at 5 years after surgery, followed by a gradual increase to $8495 (95% CI, $7609-$9484) at 10 years after surgery. Total expenditures were higher in the surgery cohort than in the nonsurgery cohort during the 3 years before surgery and in the first 2 years after surgery. The expenditures of the 2 cohorts converged 5 to 10 years after surgery. Outpatient pharmacy expenditures were significantly lower among the surgery cohort in all years of follow-up ($509 lower at 3 years before surgery and $461 lower at 7 to 12 months before surgery), but these cost reductions were offset by higher inpatient and outpatient (nonpharmacy) expenditures. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of 9954 predominantly older male veterans with severe obesity, total health care expenditures increased immediately after patients underwent bariatric surgery but converged with those of patients who had not undergone surgery at 10 years after surgery. This finding suggests that the value of bariatric surgery lies primarily in its associations with improvements in health and not in its potential to decrease health care costs.

OBJECTIVE To construct and internally validate prediction models to estimate the risk of long-term end-organ complications and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity that can be used to inform treatment decisions for patients and practitioners who are considering metabolic surgery. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 2,287 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent metabolic surgery between 1998 and 2017 in the Cleveland Clinic Health System were propensity-matched 1:5 to 11,435 nonsurgical patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and type 2 diabetes who received usual care with follow-up through December 2018. Multivariable time-to-event regression and random forest machine learning models were built and internally validated using fivefold cross-validation to predict the 10-year risk for four outcomes of interest. The prediction models were programmed to construct user-friendly web-based and smartphone applications of Individualized Diabetes Complications (IDC) Risk Scores for clinical use. RESULTS The prediction tools demonstrated the following discrimination ability based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (1 = perfect discrimination and 0.5 = chance) at 10 years in the surgical and nonsurgical groups, respectively: all-cause mortality (0.79 and 0.81), coronary artery events (0.66 and 0.67), heart failure (0.73 and 0.75), and nephropathy (0.73 and 0.76). When a patient’s data are entered into the IDC application, it estimates the individualized 10-year morbidity and mortality risks with and without undergoing metabolic surgery. CONCLUSIONS The IDC Risk Scores can provide personalized evidence-based risk information for patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity about future cardiovascular outcomes and mortality with and without metabolic surgery based on their current status of obesity, diabetes, and related cardiometabolic conditions.