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Lack of Adherence to Follow-Up Visits After Bariatric Surgery: Reasons and Outcome

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Abstract

Background

A substantial number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery are lost to follow-up for unknown reasons, which may cause an overestimation of the benefits of operation. The aim of this study was to identify the reasons of failure to attend controls after bariatric surgery and the relationship with poor weight loss.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of a prospective database including all patients undergoing bariatric surgery from January 2004 to February 2012 was performed. Nonadherence was defined as missing any scheduled control visit for more than 6 months. Contact was attempted (mail, telephone, and e-mail), and responders were requested to complete a questionnaire.

Results

Forty-six (17.5 %) out of 263 patients were considered nonadherent. Thirty-three (71.7 %) of these patients completed the questionnaire. The main reasons for nonadherence were work- (36.4 %) and family-related (18.2 %) problems or having moved outside the city or to the country (15.2 %). The percentage of nonadherent patients aged ≤45 years was greater as compared with those aged >45 years [28 (60.1 %) vs 18 (42.2 %), respectively, P = 0.034]. Likewise, of the 30 patients with unsuccessful weight loss (<50 % EWL), seven (30.4 %) were in the nonadherent group while 23 (10.6 %) in the adherent group (P = 0.046). Finally, 96.9 % of patients were completely satisfied with surgery and would recommend the procedure to other morbid obese patients.

Conclusion

The nonadherence rate to follow-up visits after bariatric surgery was 17.5 %, mainly associated with work-related problems. Nonadherence was greater in patients aged ≤45 years and in those with poor weight loss.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Sergi Mojal from the Statistics Unit IMIM (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques) for his expert help in the statistical analysis and Marta Pulido, MD for editing the manuscript and editorial assistance.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Hospital Universitario del Mar, IMIM (Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Marítim 25-29, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Pablo Vidal, José Manuel Ramón, Xènia Crous, Manuel Pera & Luis Grande

  2. Service of Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario del Mar, IMIM (Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Marítim 25-29, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Alberto Goday & Alejandra Parri

  3. Service of Anesthesiology, Hospital Universitario del Mar, IMIM (Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Marítim 25-29, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

    Lourdes Trillo

Authors
  1. Pablo Vidal
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  2. José Manuel Ramón
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  3. Alberto Goday
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  4. Alejandra Parri
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  5. Xènia Crous
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  6. Lourdes Trillo
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  7. Manuel Pera
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  8. Luis Grande
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Manuel Ramón.

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Vidal, P., Ramón, J.M., Goday, A. et al. Lack of Adherence to Follow-Up Visits After Bariatric Surgery: Reasons and Outcome. OBES SURG 24, 179–183 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1094-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-1094-9

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