A retrospective audit of weight loss and health outcomes following bariatric surgery at a tertiary public hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To assess longterm weight and comorbidity outcomes following bariatric surgery at a publicly funded obesity service. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cohort of 203 individuals who underwent bariatric surgery between 1 October 2009 and 1 June 2024 were followed for 1-10 years postoperatively. Major obesity-related comorbidities assessed included type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), dyslipidaemia, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), arthritis and arthralgia, and depression and anxiety. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage change in weight over time and change in prevalence of obesity-related comorbidities. RESULTS: At baseline the mean age was 50.4 years (SD, 11 years), mean weight 134.6 kg (SD, 30.3 kg), mean BMI 49.3 kg/m(SD, 9.5 kg/m) and 59.6% (n = 121) of the cohort had ≥ three of the six comorbidities. Maximal weight loss occurred at 18-months post-surgery with a mean 26.6% (SD, 9.8%) weight reduction. Data were available for 45% (n = 73/162) at 5 years and 38% (n = 19/50) of the cohort at 10 years, with mean weight loss of 23% and 21.9%, respectively. Compared to baseline, at 5 years there was a significant reduction in the proportion of the cohort with T2DM (-13.2%, p < 0.001), OSA (-11.4%, p < 0.001), hypertension (-10.4%, p < 0.002) and dyslipidaemia (-9.2%, p < 0.003), but there was no change in the proportion with anxiety, depression, arthritis or arthralgia. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery in a publicly funded service was shown to have long-term efficacy, with weight loss maintained to 10 years follow-up and a reduction in the incidence of four major obesity-related comorbidities after 5 years.