Three years durability of the improvements in health-related quality of life observed after gastric banding

Background Improvements in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) occur after bariatric surgery. However, sustainability of these changes over time remains debated. Methods Data collected in a prospective 3-year multicenter Italian study on changes of HR-QoL after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding were used. HR-QoL has investigated with the SF-36 questionnaire. Hunger, satiety, and the self-perceived effects of LAGB were recorded. Results A total of 230 patients (53 male and 177 female) were analyzed. Body mass index was 41.4±5.4 kg/m² at baseline, declined to 33.8±5.8 kg/m² 12 months after surgery (P2 36 months after surgery (P10 points between 12 and 36 months in the summary scores was observed in 22.0% of the patients for PCS and in 26.8% for MCS. In a multiple linear regression analysis, deterioration in HR-QoL in the 12-36 months period was associated to the presence of better HR-QoL values at 12 months and to a more pronounced reduction of the self-perceived effect of the banding at 36 months. Conclusion Improvements in HR-QoL observed in the first year after surgery maintained up to the third year after gastric banding.