Distance to clinic and follow-up visit compliance in adolescent gastric bypass cohort

Regular follow-up after bariatric surgery is important to assess the clinical status. Various factors could influence retention (i.e., compliance with clinical follow-up). The present analysis tested the hypothesis that the distance from the center will influence clinical retention for adolescent bariatric surgery patients. Our aim was to determine whether the distance to the clinic, and other patient characteristics, would predict clinical follow-up compliance. The present study was conducted at a tertiary care, free-standing children's hospital.

The Follow-up of Adolescent Bariatric Surgery (FABS) study is a single-center cohort study collecting demographic and clinical information. The subjects' addresses were geocoded, and the distance to the clinic was calculated. A generalized estimating equations model was used to examine follow-up visit compliance.

A total of 71 subjects underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB), with a mean body mass index of 59 kg/m(2). The average distance to the clinic was 98 miles. Retention declined over time (6 mo, 94%; 1 yr, 89%; 2 yr, 69%; P < .01); however, distance was not associated with retention (P = .68). Age at surgery was inversely related to retention (P = .04).

Compliance with clinical follow-up decreased 1 and 2 years after RYGB in adolescents. The distance from the center was not associated with follow-up regimen compliance. However, increasing age was associated with decreased retention. Additional research should focus on determining the modifiable factors that influence retention.