Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Utilization and Safety in the United States
Sarah E. Messiah, Luyu Xie, M. Sunil Mathew, Elisa Morales-Marroquin, Jaime P. Almandoz, Faisal G. Qureshi, Benjamin E. Schneider, Nestor de la Cruz-Muñoz
- The pandemic caused a dramatic disruption to bariatric surgery, with most hospitals suspending procedures in spring 2020. This study measured how much surgical volume declined and how quickly it recovered.
- The study addressed whether it remained safe to have bariatric surgery, comparing complication, readmission, and mortality rates between pandemic and pre-pandemic periods.
- Patients who postponed surgery experienced continued deterioration of diabetes, blood pressure, and sleep apnea during the delay.
- Obesity is a major risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness, making obesity treatment potentially life-saving in the context of future respiratory pandemics.
- Dr. de la Cruz-Muñoz's program continued operating throughout the pandemic in South Florida, one of the hardest-hit regions.
- This provides evidence-based reassurance that weight loss surgery can be performed safely.
This study published in Obesity Surgery analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on metabolic and bariatric surgery utilization and patient safety in the United States using MBSAQIP database data. The pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to elective surgical services, with most hospitals suspending non-emergency surgeries during the initial 2020 surge and implementing phased reopening protocols. Dr. de la Cruz-Muñoz is a co-author.
Messiah SE, Xie L, Mathew MS, Morales-Marroquin E, Almandoz JP, Qureshi FG, Schneider BE, de la Cruz-Muñoz N. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Utilization and Safety in the United States. Obesity Surgery. 2022. doi:10.1007/s11695-022-06077-x.
