Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on Gastric Bypass Results at 1-Year Follow-up

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a lockdown in many countries, which induced negative dietary habits and sedentary behavior. Studies suggest that weight loss of patients undergoing bariatric surgery was equally affected. The aim was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on weight loss, obesity-related comorbidities, and nutritional status at 1-year follow-up after gastric bypass (GB).

Retrospective observational case-control study of patients undergoing primary GB in a tertiary referral Belgian center. COVID-19 period group was composed by those whose 1-year postoperative period was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown: from October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. The control group was composed of patients operated from October 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019. Electronic clinical records were reviewed searching: baseline characteristics, weight and comorbidities evolution, and biochemical values.

A total of 47 patients in the COVID-19 period group and 66 in the non-COVID-19 period group were analyzed. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. A reduced weight loss was observed at 1-year follow-up, in terms of percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) (82.4% [SD: 21.6] vs. 82.4% [SD: 21.6]; p: 0.043) and body mass index (BMI) (27.8 kg/m² [IQR: 25.8-30.0] vs. 26.2 kg/m² [IQR: 24.6-28.6]; p: 0.029) for COVID-19 period group vs. non-COVID-19 period group, respectively. There was a similar reduction of obesity-related comorbidities, without clinically significant differences in the nutritional follow-up.

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown had an impact on weight loss at 1-year follow-up after gastric bypass.