Predictors of weight loss 2 years after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Introduction: Despite the rapidly increasing popularity of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), there is limited data examining weight loss more than 1 year after the procedure. There have also been few studies examining baseline predictors of weight loss after LSG. We aimed to examine the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) in patients 2 years after LSG and identify baseline predictors of %EWL.

Methods: Electronic records from university hospitals were available for 292 patients who underwent LSG (205 women; mean age, 41.5 ± 11.1 years; mean weight, 126.5 ± 27.5 kg; mean BMI, 45.5 ± 7.5 kg/m(2) ). Variables assessed for predictive effect were baseline age, sex, BMI, presence of comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, or obstructive sleep apnea), the amount of weight loss induced by a very low-calorie diet before surgery, and the number of clinic appointments attended over the 2 years. We performed linear regression and mixed model analyses between predictor variables and %EWL at 2 years.

Results: Adjusted %EWL was 31% at 2 weeks, 49% at 3 months, 64% at 6 months, 70% at 9 months, 76% at 12 months, 79% at 18 months, and 79% at 2 years. Multivariate analysis showed that lower baseline BMI, absence of hypertension, and greater clinic attendance predicted better %EWL (r(2) = 0.11).

Conclusion: Longer-term follow-up studies of weight loss post LSG are required to assist with patient care and management.