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Bariatric surgery waiting times in Canada
Nicolas V Christou1, Evangelos Efthimiou
1Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, McGill University, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Que. nicolas.christou@muhc.mcgill.ca
Summary
Canadian bariatric surgery waiting times exceed five years, the longest for any procedure. This delay is unacceptable given the life-saving benefits of bariatric surgery.
Area of Science:
- Bariatric Surgery Outcomes
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Severe obesity is a global epidemic, with bariatric surgery being the only permanent treatment.
- Access to bariatric surgery in Canada is severely limited, necessitating data collection on wait times.
Purpose of the Study:
- To collect accurate data on waiting times for bariatric surgery across Canada.
- To assess the current accessibility and timeliness of bariatric surgical procedures.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted among members of the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons.
- Detailed analysis included data from Quebec and a long-standing Canadian bariatric surgery registry.
Main Results:
- In 2007, 6783 patients waited for bariatric surgery, with only 1313 procedures performed, indicating an average wait time of over 5 years.
- This wait time significantly exceeds benchmarks for other surgical procedures and resulted in 12 patient deaths at one center.
Conclusions:
- Bariatric surgery wait times in Canada are the longest among all surgically treated conditions.
- Current wait times are unacceptable given the substantial reduction in mortality risk associated with bariatric surgery.
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