Gender Comparisons of Surgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB): a Historical Cohort Study

Introduction and Purpose: Clinical trials in the field of bariatrics have frequently been gender imbalanced, with males representing only 20% of examinees. Long-term gender-oriented results in one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), and specifically quality of life (QOL) parameters, have not been addressed sufficiently. A better understanding of gender’s effect on OAGB outcomes can play an important role in selecting the appropriate bariatric surgery for patients. Our study was aimed at examining mid-term gender-associated outcome of OAGB, including the effect on QOL. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent OAGB at surgical ward A, SUMC, Israel, between 2015 and 2020. Demographics, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities were extracted from the national medical records system. Follow-up quality of life (QOL) and weight parameters were supplemented via telephone questionnaires, using the Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS). Results: A total of 152 patients were included; of these, 51 (33.6%) were males, with an average follow-up period of 4.1 (± 1.3) years post-surgery. Basic demographics showed no significant pre- or post-surgery differences between males and females, except for pre-op weight (which as expected was higher for males). Males had a higher overall BAROS score than females (3.8 ± 2.1 vs. 2.6 ± 2.1, p < 0.001). Conclusions: OAGB surgery results in better outcomes for male than for female patients as measured by the BAROS, despite a similar BMI reduction, and with no difference in complications. Gender-specific outcomes are one of the variables that one should be aware of in optimizing patient selection and pre-operative patient counseling. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].