594 Reporting of Weight Loss Outcomes Following Bariatric Surgery in Comparison to ASMBS Guidelines

Abstract

Abstract A large volume of literature supports bariatric surgery as an effective therapy. The heterogeneity of weight loss (WL) outcomes significantly limits synthesis and meta-analysis. In 2015, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) published reporting standards to achieve consistency in the literature. We aim to assess the effect of the ASMBS guidance in the bariatric surgery literature. Nine PubMed journals focusing on bariatric surgery were screened for articles published in the first six months of 2015 and 2021. Of 1807 articles, 105 and 158 articles in 2015 and 2021 respectively, reported on WL outcomes following bariatric surgery. Overall ASMBS compliance increased from 5% to 20%, p<0.05. Initial weight and BMI were reported in all studies but clarification of this as the immediate preoperative weight reduced from 15% to 6%, p<0.05. Percent Total WL (%TWL) increased from 17% to 61%, p<0.05. Change in BMI (ΔBMI) stayed 41%. Percent BMI or Excess WL (%EBMIL or %EWL) did not significantly change from 76% to 69%, p=0.203. In 2021, two of the nine included journals gave guidance on reporting WL in their instructions to authors. 30% (n=42/142) of articles did not comply with the journal's WL reporting guidance. Other unique reported WL outcomes increased from 44 to 55. Significant heterogeneity in reporting WL outcomes remains hindering robust meta-analysis of published articles. Use of referral weight instead of preoperative weight can inflate WL in those with mandated preoperative WL, clarifying initial weight is needed. Other non-standard measures of WL have increased.