Comparative effectiveness of bariatric procedures among adolescents: the PCORnet bariatric study

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery has been used for treatment of severe obesity in adolescents but most studies have been small and limited in follow-up. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that electronic health record data could be used to compare effectiveness of bariatric procedures in adolescents. SETTING: Data were obtained from clinical research networks using a common data model to extract data from each site. METHODS: Adolescents who underwent a primary bariatric procedure from 2005 through 2015 were identified. The percent change in body mass index (BMI) at 1, 3, and 5 years was estimated using random effects linear regression for patients undergoing all operations. Propensity score adjusted estimates and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for procedures with >25 patients at each time period. RESULTS: This cohort of 544 adolescents was predominantly female (79%) and White (66%), with mean (±standard deviation) age of 17.3 (±1.6) years and mean BMI of 49.8 (± 7.8) kg/m(2). Procedures included Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB; n = 177), sleeve gastrectomy (SG; n = 306), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (n = 61). For those undergoing RYGB, SG, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, mean (95% confidence interval) BMI changes of −31% (−30% to −33%), −28% (−27% to −29%), and −10% (−8% to −12%), were estimated at 1 year. For RYGB and SG, BMI changes of −29% (−26% to −33%) and −25% (−22% to −28%) were estimated at 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents undergoing SG and RYGB experienced greater declines in BMI at 1- and 3-year follow-up time points, while laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding was significantly less effective for BMI reduction. (Surg Obes Relat Dis 2018;000:1–13.)