Three years durability of the improvements in health-related quality of life observed after gastric banding.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) occur after bariatric surgery. However, sustainability of these changes over time remains debated.

METHODS: Data collected in a prospective 3-year multicenter Italian study on changes of HR-QoL after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding were used. HR-QoL has investigated with the SF-36 questionnaire. Hunger, satiety, and the self-perceived effects of LAGB were recorded.

RESULTS: A total of 230 patients (53 male and 177 female) were analyzed. Body mass index was 41.4±5.4 kg/m2 at baseline, declined to 33.8±5.8 kg/m2 12 months after surgery (P<.001), and further reduced to 31.9±5.1 kg/m2 36 months after surgery (P<.001 versus 12 months). Scores in the SF-36 subscales were lower than in the general Italian population at baseline. The physical component summary score was 51.9±11.6 at baseline, improved to 79.2±15.4 at 12 months (P<.001), and stabilized to 79.8±15.6 at 36 months. The mental summary score was 52.3±11.8 at baseline, improved to 75.2±17.3 at 12 months (P<.001), and stabilized to 74.2±17.5 at 36 months. A decline>10 points between 12 and 36 months in the summary scores was observed in 22.0% of the patients for PCS and in 26.8% for MCS. In a multiple linear regression analysis, deterioration in HR-QoL in the 12-36 months period was associated to the presence of better HR-QoL values at 12 months and to a more pronounced reduction of the self-perceived effect of the banding at 36 months.

CONCLUSION: Improvements in HR-QoL observed in the first year after surgery maintained up to the third year after gastric banding.