Amna Mehdi, DO, Gus Slotman, MD. Inspira Health Network
Objective/Background: Today, ORYGB is chosen primarily for massively obese patients and for those with complex intra-abdominal scarring/anatomy. In managing these fragile patients, every clinical insight helps. While pre-operative characteristics of ORYGB patients differ among racial groups, whether or not post-ORYGB outcomes are affected by race is unknown. The objective of this study was to identify outcomes variation in weight loss and obesity co-morbidities following ORYGB by racial groups.
Methods and Procedures: Data from the Surgical Review Corporation’s BOLD database on 5,389 patients who underwent open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (ORYGB) was analyzed retrospectively in four groups over 24 months postoperatively: African-American (n=503), Caucasian (n=3769), Hispanic (n=460), and Other (Pacific Islands, Native American, or >1 race recorded; n=652). Five Asian patients were too few to analyze. Outcomes analysis used General Linear Models that included baseline and post-operative data, and were modified for binomial distribution of dichotomous variables.
Results: Angina, CHF, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, asthma, abdominal hernia, stress urinary incontinence, gout, PCOS, pseudotumor cerebri, leg edema, mental health diagnoses and alcohol/tobacco/substance abuse did not vary by race.
.PNG)
Conclusions: Many clinically important outcomes following ORYGB vary by race. It is important for surgeons to recognize significant variations in postoperative results for morbidly obese patients based on their race, which advance knowledge can impact how patients respond to ORYGB. Understanding differential responses by race classification in weight loss and in the resolution of weight-related medical problems can help physicians optimize post-ORYGB medical care.