Obesity and Health-related Quality of Life in Patients Receiving Bariatric Surgery in the UK

United Kingdom National Bariatric Surgery Registry (NBSR) records between 1st June 2017 and 23rd November 2022 were used to identify people undergoing primary bariatric (weight-loss) surgery. People undergoing primary bariatric (weight-loss) surgery with one baseline and at least one follow-up visit within one year from surgery were included. Statistical models were used to estimate the relationship between quality of life as assessed by a questionnaire and body mass index at baseline and over time.

Previous small studies investigating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following bariatric surgery have demonstrated heterogenous effects. Estimated changes in HRQoL are used to evaluate both clinical- and cost-effectiveness of interventions; which in turn informs commissioning decisions. Understanding HRQoL of patients undergoing bariatric surgery is therefore important for both clinical practice and policymaking. This study aimed to use National Bariatric Surgery Registry (NBSR) records to investigate the relationship between weight and HRQoL in people undergoing bariatric surgery in the UK. The NBSR is an anonymised, bespoke record of bariatric cases carried out within the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and Ireland. The analysis plan was prospectively published in March 2022, and it is available here: https://osf.io/6t9rg/.