Improvement in Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QOL) in the First Year after Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)

Background: We analyzed the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its determinants in the first year after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). The setting was 10 Italian public and private bariatric surgery centers. Methods: Data collected in an ongoing, prospective, 3-year multicenter Italian study on the changes in HRQOL after LAGB were used. HRQOL was investigated using the Medical Outcomes Study Short- Form 36 questionnaire. Hunger, satiety, and the self-perceived effects of LAGB were recorded. Results: A total of 334 patients were enrolled. The follow-up rate was 92.2%. The percentage of excess weight loss was 39.6% 25.8%, with very few side effects or complications. Hunger in the morning (0–10 scale) was 4.5 2.7 before surgery and 3.8 2.4 after 1 year (P .001). Satiety after a meal (0–10 scale) was 7.1 2.7 before surgery and 8.2 1.9 at 1 year (P .001). The self-perceived effect of LAGB on caloric intake (0–10 scale) was 8.4 1.9 after 1 year. The scores for the 8 Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 subscales were significantly improved after surgery. The physical component summary score was 52.6 11.9 at baseline and 79.1 15.6 after 1 year (P .001). The corresponding mental component summary scores were 52.2 12.3 and 76.5 17.2 (P .001). Greater physical component summary improvement was independently associated with a low initial physical component summary (P .001), high satiety (P .002), a high percentage of excess weight loss (P .013), and a high self-perceived effect of the LAGB (P .026). Greater mental component summary improvement was associated with a low initial mental component summary (P .001), high satiety (P .001), a low frequency of heartburn (P .004), and a high percentage of excess weight loss (P .012). Conclusions: Significant improvements in HRQOL were observed in the first year after LAGB. A poor baseline HRQOL, a high efficacy of the banding in eating control, and better weight loss might influence HRQOL changes. (Surg Obes Relat Dis 2012;8:260 –268.) © 2012 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. All rights reserved.