Background
Empirical evidence suggests Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) increases risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, prospective assessment of substance use disorders (SUD) following bariatric surgery is limited.
Objective
To report SUD-related outcomes following RYGB and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). To identify factors associated with incident SUD-related outcomes.
Setting
Ten US hospitals.
Methods
The Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2 is an observational cohort study. Participants self-reported past-year AUD symptoms (determined by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), illicit drug use (cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, phencyclidine, amphetamines, or marijuana), and SUD treatment (counseling or hospitalization for alcohol or drugs) presurgery and annually postsurgery for up to seven years through January 2015.
Results
Of 2348 participants who underwent RYGB or LAGB, 2003 completed baseline and follow-up assessments (79.2% women, baseline median age 47 years, median body mass index 45.6). The year-5 cumulative incidence of postsurgery onset AUD symptoms, illicit drug use, and SUD treatment were 20.8% (95%CI, 18.5-23.3), 7.5% (95%CI, 6.1-9.1), and 3.5% (95%CI, 2.6-4.8), respectively, post-RYGB, and 11.3% (95%CI, 8.5-14.9), 4.9% (95%CI, 3.1-7.6), and 0.9% (95%CI, 0.4-2.5) post-LAGB. Undergoing RYGB vs. LAGB was associated with higher risk of incident AUD symptoms (AHR=2.08 [95%CI, 1.51-2.85]), illicit drug use (AHR=1.76 [95%CI, 1.07-2.90]) and SUD treatment (AHR=3.56 [95%CI, 1.26-10.07]).
Conclusions
Undergoing RYGB vs. LAGB was associated with twice the risk of incident AUD symptoms. One-fifth of participants reported incident AUD symptoms within 5 years post-RYGB. AUD education, screening, evaluation, and treatment referral should be incorporated in pre- and postoperative care.
