ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Chirurgica 2016 August;71(4):245-51

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Health-related quality of life after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. A multicentric experience

Regis AMICHAUD ¹, Gianluca DONATINI ¹, Marie L. BARUSSAUD ¹, Charalambou CHARALAMBOUS ¹, Isabelle INGRAND ², Jean P. FAURE ¹ ✉

¹ Department of Visceral Surgery, La Milétrie University Hospital, Poitiers, France; ² Clinical Investigation Center, University Hospital of Poitiers, Poitiers, France

BACKGROUND: Obesity has an impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and bariatric surgery may improve HRQoL in addition to severe obesity-related comorbidities. Aim of the study was to evaluate HRQoL following sleeve gastrectomy and the sensitivity of two HRQoL questionnaires: the Impact of Weight on Quality Of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite) and the World Health Organization-Quality Of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) scales.
METHODS: Data were prospectively collected from 149 adult patients submitted to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, before, at 6 and 12 months post-operatively. HRQoL was measured using both the WHOQOL-Bref and the IWQOL-Lite questionnaires.
RESULTS: Mean age was 40.5±11.9 years, mean initial weight 118.7±30.3 kg and mean preoperative Body Mass Index (BMI) was 44.1±6.3 kg/m². Excess weight loss (EWL) was 53.1% and 68.8% respectively at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Both questionnaires showed significant improvement of HRQoL 12 months after the procedure. Two over 4 domains (physical and psychological health) of the WHOQOL-Bref improved at 6 months whereas all of the 5 domains of the IWQOL-Lite did. The IWQOL-Lite questionnaire pointed out a significant enhancement both at 6 and 12 months.
CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL is improved after sleeve gastrectomy. The specific obesity questionnaire IWQOL-Lite seems to be more sensitive than the generic WHOQOL-Bref to detect amelioration of HRQoL.