Gender as a Deterministic Factor in Procedure Selection and Outcomes in Bariatric Surgery

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery Outcomes
• Surgical Procedure Comparison
• Gender-Based Health Disparities

Background:

• Rising obesity rates necessitate effective bariatric surgery interventions.
• Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy are common bariatric procedures.
• Understanding gender differences in bariatric surgery is crucial for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze gender-based differences in the selection of bariatric surgical procedures.
• To compare postoperative complication and readmission rates between genders for Sleeve Gastrectomy and Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
• To identify potential disparities in bariatric surgery outcomes based on gender.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2015-2017).
• Assessed demographics, postoperative complications, and readmission rates.
• Employed chi-square analysis, student t-test, and propensity analyses for statistical evaluation.

Main Results:

• Men had higher comorbidities and BMI; more men underwent Sleeve Gastrectomy (68.5%) vs. women (63.0%).
• Women underwent more Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (37.0%) vs. men (31.5%).
• Men had higher complications in both groups; women had higher unplanned readmissions (3.5% vs. 2.8%).

Conclusions:

• Men are more frequently selected for Sleeve Gastrectomy, despite increased complication risks.
• Women experience higher unplanned readmission rates irrespective of the bariatric procedure chosen.
• Gender influences bariatric surgery selection and contributes to differing postoperative outcomes.