Abstract
Background
Global obesity is a pervasive issue, affecting one in three adults by 2013. Metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS) addresses weight loss needs but faces challenges in accessibility. MBS tourism, driven by factors like cost and wait times, constitutes 2% of global MBS volume, presenting ethical concerns.
Methods
A cross-sectional study at Evercare Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, with patients who met the inclusion criteria and had MBS between June 2020 and September 2023 at the hospital by a single surgeon. Data was collected via a self-administered Google Forms questionnaire, including demographics, weight changes, and the Bariatric Quality of Life Index (BQLI), providing insights into impact of surgery on diverse patient groups. Statistical analysis was performed with significance set at p < 0.05. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used for comparisons along with correlation tests.
Results
38.9% patients (105/270) responded to the questionnaire. The study included 105 patients MBS (69 local and 36 medical tourism). We found no significant difference in QOL, TWL%, BMI change, or post-surgical follow-up duration between MBS tourism patients and native patients. Both groups showed significant weight and BMI reductions (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between TWL% and BQLI scores (r = 0.25, p = 0.01), and post-MBS quality of life was better in younger patients (r = -0.32, p < 0.001). Satisfaction rates were 75% for tourism patients and 59.4% for native patients.
Conclusion
MBS tourism offers comparable outcomes to MBS performed in home countries, suggesting that it can be a viable option for patients facing accessibility issues. Ensuring ethical practices and patient satisfaction remains crucial.