PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Helen M Parretti
AU  - Anuradhaa Subramanian
AU  - Nicola J Adderley
AU  - Sally Abbott
AU  - Abd A Tahrani
AU  - Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar
TI  - Post-bariatric surgery nutritional follow-up in primary care: a population-based cohort study
AID  - 10.3399/bjgp20X714161
DP  - 2021 Jun 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - e441--e449
VI  - 71
IP  - 707
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/71/707/e441.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/71/707/e441.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract2021 Jun 01; 71
AB  - Background Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity. However, without recommended follow-up it has long-term risks.Aim To investigate whether nutritional and weight monitoring in primary care meets current clinical guidance, after patients are discharged from specialist bariatric care.Design and setting Retrospective cohort study in primary care practices contributing to IQVIA Medical Research Data in the UK (1 January 2000 to 17 January 2018).Method Participants were adults who had had bariatric surgery with a minimum of 3 years’ follow-up post-surgery, as this study focused on patients discharged from specialist care (at 2 years post-surgery). Outcomes were the annual proportion of patients from 2 years post-surgery with a record of recommended nutritional screening blood tests, weight measurement, and prescription of nutritional supplements, and the proportions with nutritional deficiencies based on blood tests.Results A total of 3137 participants were included in the study, and median follow-up post-surgery was 5.7 (4.2–7.6) years. Between 45% and 59% of these patients had an annual weight measurement. The greatest proportions of patients with a record of annual nutritional blood tests were for tests routinely conducted in primary care, for example, recorded haemoglobin measurement varied between 44.9% (n = 629/1400) and 61.2% (n = 653/1067). Annual proportions of blood tests specific to bariatric surgery were low, for example, recorded copper measurement varied between 1.2% (n = 10/818) and 1.5% (n = 16/1067) where recommended. Results indicated that the most common deficiency was anaemia. Annual proportions of patients with prescriptions for recommended nutritional supplements were low.Conclusion This study suggests that patients who have bariatric surgery are not receiving the recommended nutritional monitoring after discharge from specialist care. GPs and patients should be supported to engage with follow-up care. Future research should aim to understand the reasons underpinning these findings.