Short-term outcomes of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty

Obesity is a chronic disease with significant health implications and its prevalence has risen sharply worldwide. While metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective intervention for obesity, not all patients qualify or wish to undergo surgery. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) has emerged as an effective and safe minimally invasive alternative. However, mid-term outcome data remain limited, particularly in the Kuwaiti population. This study aims to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of ESG in this demographic.

A prospective cohort study was conducted at a public hospital in Kuwait, enrolling 61 patients between January 2023 and August 2024. Inclusion criteria included adults (≥ 18 years) with a BMI > 30 kg/m² or > 27.5 kg/m² with comorbidities who underwent ESG, with a follow-up period of 12 months. Weight loss and safety outcomes were assessed.

Of the 61 patients, 49 completed 12 months of follow-up. Mean %TBWL was 6.7% at 2 weeks, 10.6% at 3 months, 13.4% at 6 months, 15.1% at 9 months, and 16.1% at 12 months (p < 0.0001). At 12 months, 57% of patients achieved > 15% %TBWL and 20% attained a normal BMI (< 25 kg/m²). ESG demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with a low number of mild complications and none of the patients required an invasive intervention.

ESG is an effective and safe intervention for weight loss in the Kuwaiti population, yielding significant weight reduction and a low complication rate over 12 months. These findings support its role as a viable alternative for individuals who do not qualify for or prefer to avoid MBS. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and larger multicenter studies to further validate these results.