Attrition after Acceptance onto a Publicly Funded Bariatric Surgery Program

Factors such as ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status may play a role in both access to and attrition from bariatric programs before surgery is undertaken. New Zealand (NZ) has high rates of obesity in its Pacific population and the indigenous Māori. These groups also experience poorer health outcomes and therefore have the greatest need for surgery.

A retrospective cross-sectional study of 704 people referred for and accepted onto a publicly funded bariatric surgery from 2007 to 2016. The demographic and clinical features of two groups were compared: those that completed surgery successfully (n = 326) and those that dropped out of the program before surgery (n = 378). We also attempted to identify factors associated with attrition.

The attrition rate was high (54%), with a significant difference according to gender (men 66% vs 45% women, p < 0.001) and ethnicity (39% in NZ Europeans, 50% in Māori, and 73% in Pacific patients, p < 0.001). Two out of three European women proceeded to surgery, but fewer than one in seven Pacific men. Attrition was associated with having a higher mean BMI and being a smoker. Logistic regression modeling showed that while employment seemed to be protective against attrition for NZ Europeans (p < 0.004), it was not for Pacific patients.

While there was no obvious bias in rates of referral, there is clearly a need for better ways to support Māori and Pacific people, and men in particular, to complete bariatric surgery. Further research is needed to clarify the socio-economic and cultural barriers that underlie this phenomenon.