Comparing Health-Related Quality of Life in Obese Patients With and Without Bariatric Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population in Singapore
Author(s)
Jia Jia Lee1, Asim Shabbir, MBBS (PAK.), MMed (S'pore), FRCS (Edin.)2, Nur Syafiqah Binte Senin, BA2, Nan Luo, PhD3.
1Student, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, 2National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore, 3National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
1Student, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, 2National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore, 3National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
OBJECTIVES: Western studies show bariatric surgery (BS) improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but evidence from Asia is limited, despite lower BMI thresholds for BS eligibility due to higher cardiovascular risk. As BMI is linked to HRQoL, this study compared self-reported HRQoL between patients with and without BS in multi-ethnic Singapore.
METHODS:
We analyzed data from an ongoing cross-sectional study at two specialist outpatient weight management clinics. Eligible participants had either undergone BS ≥6 months prior or were eligible but had not received surgery. Participants completed a questionnaire including demographics, EQ-5D-5L, EQ-HWB-9, PROMIS-10, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index subjective sleep quality item (PSQI). Each outcome was dichotomized: EQ-5D-5L dimensions (with/without problems), EQ-HWB-9 (presence/absence of dimension or difficulty/pain), PSQI (good/bad sleep quality), and PROMIS overall health and quality of life items (Good/Very good/Excellent vs Poor/Fair). We used multiple logistic regressions to assess group differences in these outcomes. Multiple linear regression was used to compare EQ-5D-5L index, EQ VAS, EQ-HWB-9 level sum score, and EQ-HWB-9 index. Each regression was adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicities.
RESULTS:
The analysis involved 37 BS and 43 non-BS participants. Compared to non-BS participants, BS participants had significantly lower odds of reporting problems in EQ-5D-5L mobility (OR: 0.32), EQ-5D-5L usual activities (OR: 0.17), EQ-HWB-9 mobility (OR: 0.21), EQ-HWB-9 daily activities (OR: 0.25), EQ-HWB-9 physical pain (OR: 0.31) and poorer PROMIS overall health (OR: 0.15) and quality of life (OR: 0.34). BS participants also reported significantly higher VAS (β=23.06) and index (β=0.12) than non-BS participants.
CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings show that Asian obese patients who received BS reported better overall HRQoL, mobility, usual/daily activities, and pain than those without BS. This supports BS in enhancing HRQoL and underscore the importance of patient-reported outcomes alongside clinical measures. Updated results with a larger sample will be presented at the conference.
METHODS:
We analyzed data from an ongoing cross-sectional study at two specialist outpatient weight management clinics. Eligible participants had either undergone BS ≥6 months prior or were eligible but had not received surgery. Participants completed a questionnaire including demographics, EQ-5D-5L, EQ-HWB-9, PROMIS-10, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index subjective sleep quality item (PSQI). Each outcome was dichotomized: EQ-5D-5L dimensions (with/without problems), EQ-HWB-9 (presence/absence of dimension or difficulty/pain), PSQI (good/bad sleep quality), and PROMIS overall health and quality of life items (Good/Very good/Excellent vs Poor/Fair). We used multiple logistic regressions to assess group differences in these outcomes. Multiple linear regression was used to compare EQ-5D-5L index, EQ VAS, EQ-HWB-9 level sum score, and EQ-HWB-9 index. Each regression was adjusted for age, sex, and ethnicities.
RESULTS:
The analysis involved 37 BS and 43 non-BS participants. Compared to non-BS participants, BS participants had significantly lower odds of reporting problems in EQ-5D-5L mobility (OR: 0.32), EQ-5D-5L usual activities (OR: 0.17), EQ-HWB-9 mobility (OR: 0.21), EQ-HWB-9 daily activities (OR: 0.25), EQ-HWB-9 physical pain (OR: 0.31) and poorer PROMIS overall health (OR: 0.15) and quality of life (OR: 0.34). BS participants also reported significantly higher VAS (β=23.06) and index (β=0.12) than non-BS participants.
CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings show that Asian obese patients who received BS reported better overall HRQoL, mobility, usual/daily activities, and pain than those without BS. This supports BS in enhancing HRQoL and underscore the importance of patient-reported outcomes alongside clinical measures. Updated results with a larger sample will be presented at the conference.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
PCR49
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), Surgery