Five-year Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life after Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch

BACKGROUND: Long-term data of health-related quality of life (HRQL) after biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPDDS) procedure are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in HRQL from baseline to 5 years after BPDDS. METHODS: Fifty morbidly obese patients were followed for 5 years after BPDDS procedure. The sample consisted of 27 women and 23 men, the mean age was 37.8 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 51.7 units. HRQL was measured with the Short Form 36 questionnaire (SF-36). Anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Linear mixed model was used to investigate the change scores. The SF-36 scores and HADS scores of the sample were also compared with a Norwegian population norm, adjusted for age, gender, and BMI. RESULTS: Mental summary scores (MCS) and physical summary scores (PCS) were very low preoperatively but significantly improved (P < 0.05) 5 years after surgery. The PCS was comparable to the population norm, while MCS was lower. Depression improved significantly from baseline to the 5-year follow-up (P = 0.004), but anxiety did not (P = 0.595). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a sustained weight loss and improved, although somewhat fading, HRQL scores 5 years after BPDDS. The study also shows that BPDDS is associated with a sustained reduction in depression symptoms but not in anxiety symptoms.