Bariatric surgery outcomes in ethnic minorities

Area of Science:

• Bariatric surgery outcomes
• Racial disparities in health
• Weight loss surgery efficacy

Background:

• Investigating racial differences in weight loss after bariatric surgery.
• Comparing sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) outcomes.
• Hypothesizing lower %EWL in ethnic minorities compared to whites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine percent excess weight loss (%EWL) across racial groups (White, Black, Hispanic) at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months post-SG or RYGB.
• To compare %EWL between SG and RYGB within racial groups.
• To test hypotheses regarding racial disparities and surgical method efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 749 patients undergoing SG or RYGB (2008-2014).
• Data collected from electronic medical records, including self-reported race/ethnicity.
• Statistical comparison of %EWL across racial groups and between surgical types.

Main Results:

• Overall %EWL differed between Black and White patients (P < .05), but not Hispanic and White patients (P = .697).
• Hispanics showed different %EWL than Blacks at all time points (P < .01); Whites differed from Blacks at 6 months (P < .05).
• RYGB was associated with greater %EWL than SG overall (P < .01), and specifically for Black patients (P < .01).

Conclusions:

• Primary hypothesis partially supported: Black patients had lower %EWL than Whites at 6 months.
• Black patients consistently showed lower %EWL than Hispanic patients.
• Secondary hypothesis partially supported: RYGB yielded greater %EWL than SG overall and for Black patients.