Tobacco Use and Substance Use Disorders as Predictors of Postoperative Weight Loss 2 Years After Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Although evaluations of tobacco and substance use disorders (SUDs) are required before bariatric surgery, the impact of these factors on postsurgical outcomes is unclear. This study describes (1) the prevalence of tobacco and SUDs in 61 veterans undergoing bariatric surgery, (2) associations between presurgical tobacco use and postsurgical weight loss, and (3) relationships between presurgical SUDs and postsurgical weight loss. Height, weight, tobacco, and SUDs were assessed from medical charts at presurgery and 6, 12, and 24 months postsurgery. Thirty-three patients (55%) were former or recent tobacco users; eight (13%) had history of SUDs. All patients who quit smoking within 6 months before surgery resumed after surgery, which was associated with increased weight loss at 6 and 12 months. Presurgical SUDs were related to marginally worse weight loss at 12 and 24 months. Bariatric surgery candidates with history of smoking and/or SUDs might benefit from additional services to improve postsurgical outcomes.

Preoperative Interventions for Patients Being Considered for Bariatric Surgery: Separating the Fact from Fiction

“…One must also recognise that smoking is an addiction, and attempts at stopping prior to bariatric surgery are usually associated with significant weight gain [30] and that itself then might exclude patients from surgical programmes.…”

A Mixed-Methods Examination among Young Adult Racially/Ethnically Diverse Bariatric Surgery Patients

“…Conversely, however Adams and colleagues found that having a pre-surgical alcohol or drug use disorder was related to marginally lower weight loss at 12 and 24 months post-surgery (Adams, Gabriele, Baillie, & Dubbert, 2012). Going further, Odom and colleagues (2010) reported that post-surgical weight regain was significantly correlated with "someone expressing concern" over the respondent's post-surgical drinking or drug use .…”

“…Adams and colleagues (Adams et al, 2012) conducted a chart review of 61 predominantly AGB patients ( Table 2 …”

“…Adams and colleagues (Adams et al, 2012) extracted illicit drug use information from medical charts that was prospectively collected pre-and post-WLS at a U.S.…”

“…B. 100% RYGB Post-surgical illicit drug use Conason et al, 2012Mitchell et al, 2001Suzuki et al, 2012Adams et al, 2012 A. 4.5% (n=155) of respondents reported illicit drug use pre-surgery, 5.3% (n=94) at 1 month post-surgery, 1.6% (n=64) at 3 months postsurgery, 3% (n=67) at 6 months post-surgery, 2.6% (n=76) at 12 months post-surgery, and 13.2% (n=38) at 24 months post-surgery.…”