Factors Influence the Acceptance of Surgical Treatment in Chinese Bariatric Surgery Candidates

The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related disorders is rapidly increasing among the Chinese populations. Bariatric surgery is becoming more and more popular in China, yet little cases were performed compared with western countries. The acceptance of this new treatment modality in Chinese bariatric surgery candidates was seldom studied.

To investigate the factors affecting the choice of bariatric surgery in Chinese patients with obesity and metabolic disorders, so as to promote the popularization of bariatric surgery in developing countries like China

Patients with obesity and related metabolic disorders meet the indications for bariatric surgery in the Department of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between January 2016 and April 2017 were asked to answer a questionnaire about the demographics of the patients, social economic status, present and past history, family history, etc. The data collected and the relationship of the acceptance of bariatric surgery were analyzed.

There were 157 patients (51 males, 32.5%; 106 females, 67.5%) with mean BMI 38.7 ± 8.1 kg/m² answered the questionnaire. One hundred twenty-three of them (78%) accepted bariatric surgery. By univariate analysis, it was found that patients’ weight, BMI, family support, medical insurance, past surgical history, family history of T2DM, and obesity-related comorbidities and symptoms are correlated with the acceptance of bariatric surgery. By multivariate analysis, it was found that patients’ weight (P = 0.024), BMI (P = 0.007), family support (P < 0.001), medical insurance (P < 0.001), past surgical history (P = 0.011), family history of T2DM (P = 0.020), and obesity-related comorbidities and symptoms (P = 0.030) are statistically significant and were positively correlated with the acceptance of bariatric surgery. Age, height, gender, history of smoking and alcohol consumption, family history of obesity, history of hypertension and T2DM, education level, and marital status were not statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Patients with heavier weight, higher BMI, family support, medical insurance reimbursement, past surgical history, family history of T2DM, and obesity-related comorbidities and symptoms are more likely to consider bariatric surgery in Chinese bariatric surgery candidates. It will be important to provide appropriate healthcare education and support to patients focusing on both obesity-related health risks and options of surgical treatment so to improve their acceptance of bariatric surgery.