Sociodemographic factors related to bariatric follow-up appointment attendance and weight outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Follow-up care after bariatric surgery is essential in preventing postsurgical complications and promoting long-term weight loss maintenance. However, many patients do not attend postsurgical appointments with the bariatric team, which may contribute to poor surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to understand sociodemographic factors related to follow-up appointment attendance and weight outcomes. The first objective was to determine whether there was a relationship between 1-year follow-up appointment attendance and sociodemographic factors. The second objective was to determine whether patients from certain sociodemographic groups were more likely to attend a 2-year follow-up appointment. The third objective was to determine whether there were differences in weight outcomes for patients who attended follow-up appointments compared with those who did not attend.

SETTING

University hospital, United States.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective observational study. Participants included 841 adult patients who underwent bariatric surgery, of whom 505 (60.05%) attended a 1-year appointment with the bariatric team (348 attended a follow-up visit with another medical provider), and 398 (47.32%) who had any follow-up medical visit at 2 years after surgery. Sociodemographic variables were collected during a presurgical psychological evaluation. Weight-related variables were obtained through patients' electronic medical records 12 and 24 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Younger patients and those with lower education levels were less likely to attend the 1-year follow-up appointment with the bariatric team. People who attend 1-year follow-up with bariatric team have more favorable weight outcomes at 1 year and 2 years after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Follow-up appointment attendance with the bariatric team may be a critical factor in the effectiveness of bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery teams should employ strategies to increase attendance at the 1-year follow-up visit with the surgical team. Additional strategies should be enacted to increase follow-up appointment attendance for patients with lower education levels.