Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Patient's Decision about Bariatric Surgery: Results of a National Survey.

Maciej Walędziak,Anna Różańska-Walędziak,Piotr Kowalewski,Paweł Bartnik,Andrzej Kwiatkowski,Joanna Kacperczyk-Bartnik,Michał Janik,Piotr Major

doi:10.3390/medicina57080756

Abstract

Background: the COVID-19 pandemic and the implemented restrictions have changed the functioning of healthcare systems worldwide. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of the present epidemiological situation on patients’ decisions about undergoing weight loss surgery. Methods: data were collected from 906 bariatric patients by the means of a national online survey, the majority of whom were women (87.9%). The survey started on 9 April 2020 and was open until 28 April 2020. The questionnaire included multiple choice and open questions, divided into three chapters: general information about the patient, life during the COVID-19 pandemic, and bariatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: despite the pandemic and the associated risk of COVID-19 infection, 443 responders (48.9%) would have decided to undergo bariatric surgery. Awareness of the negative impact of obesity on the course of COVID-19 illness had only marginable impact on patients’ decision-making (76.6% vs. 75.3%; p < 0.80). Contact with COVID-19 prior to the survey had a negative impact on the willingness to undergo bariatric surgery (3.0% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.55). There was a positive correlation between the BMI and preference for bariatric surgery in the time of the pandemic (37.4 ± 9.0 vs. 34.9 ± 8.7; p < 0.001). Conclusions: the level of awareness about the advantages of operative treatment of obesity is high among bariatric patients. The majority of patients awaiting bariatric surgery at the moment of the survey were positive about undergoing bariatric surgery despite the increased risk of a serious course of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, a large proportion of patients was determined to have bariatric treatment even during the pandemic, being aware of the increased risk of worse pace of COVID-19 disease in case of obesity and related diseases.

Highlights

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been the major global health concern
People who had personal contact with relatives or friends potentially infected with COVID-19 (6.1% vs. 6.9%, p < 0.61) and patients aware of the negative impact of obesity on the course of COVID-19 illness were less positive about undergoing surgery during the pandemic (70.8% vs. 75.5%, p < 0.12)
There was a positive correlation between the body mass index (BMI) and the willingness to undergo bariatric surgery (37.4 ± 9.1 vs. 34.9 ± 8.7; p < 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been the major global health concern. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic on 11 March 2020, most countries around the world have implemented epidemiological restrictions and redirected their resources to fight the pandemic [2,3]. Bariatric operations were withdrawn in most countries, following the recommendations of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) [5]. About 60,000 bariatric operations per month might have been canceled worldwide [6]. Some countries have started lowering the level of restrictions, including reopening shops, public places, allowing social intercourse, and returning to performing elective surgery

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