Physical Function and Health Related Quality of Life Before and 18 Months after Bariatric Surgery

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The mobility disability experienced by people with obesity is well known and has been found to be associated with reduced health related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to people without obesity. Research is lacking related to the patients experiences that how their capacity to perform various daily physical activities and HRQoL are affected by weight loss following bariatric surgery.

Aim:

To evaluate patients’ experiences of their HRQoL and physical function before and 18 months after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery (LRYGB).

Method:

A series of 70 patients filled in one HRQoL questionnaire, the EQ-5D (including EQ VAS and EQ-5D descriptive system) and two self-assessment questionnaires that evaluate disability by assessing activity and participation limitations, the Disability Rating Index (DRI) and a questionnaire with five disease-specific questions.

Results:

All activities, in both DRI as well as the five disease-specific questions were experienced as significantly less difficult to perform postoperatively than preoperatively (p<0.05). In this study, the median (min, max) EQ VAS score was 60 (20, 100) mm preoperatively and 80 (20, 100) mm postoperatively (100 = best imaginable health; 0 = worst imaginable health). The difference between pre- and postoperative EQ VAS was significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion:

Both the HRQoL and the self experienced ability to perform various daily physical activities increased significantly 18 months after LRYGB compared to preoperatively.

Keywords:

Bariatric surgery, gastric by-pass surgery, disability, obesity, physical function, quality of life.