Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Success of Bariatric Surgeries in Patients with Severe Obesity

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) pandemic may influence the weight outcomes of bariatric surgeries (BS). Here, we intended to compare the weight outcome of patients who underwent BS before and during the pandemic time. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In a retrospective, single-center study, the information of two groups of patients; first COVID-19 group (<i>n</i> = 51) consisted of those that underwent BS during the pandemic and completed a year of follow-up, second non-COVID-19 group included 50 patients who underwent BS and were followed up before the pandemic. All the patients’ anthropometric and obesity-related disease data were compared between groups. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Weight loss and the decrease of body mass index 1 year after the surgery, as well as excess weight loss and total weight loss, were significantly higher in the non-COVID-19 group compared to the COVID-19 group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). Although the rate of remission for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia was higher in the non-COVID-19 group, the differences were not statistically significant (<i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> We showed a significantly poorer weight outcome at the 1-year follow-up of the BS during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic. These results need further investigations to determine the preventive measures and management by evaluating the associated factors.