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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Bariatric Surgery | Research article

Socioeconomic factors, body mass index and bariatric surgery: a Swedish nationwide cohort study

Authors: Ensieh Memarian, Kristina Sundquist, Susanna Calling, Jan Sundquist, Xinjun Li

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Bariatric surgery is considered to be the most effective method of weight loss today. The aim of the present Swedish study, which was performed in a country that has universal health care, was to investigate if there is an association between socioeconomic factors and bariatric surgery by taking body mass index (BMI) into account.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, BMI data were collected for the period 1985–2010 from the Military Service Conscription Register (for men) and from the Medical Birth Register in the first trimester (for women). The follow-up period started in 2005 and continued until 2012. Age-standardized cumulative incidence rates (CR) of bariatric surgery were compared between different BMI groups by considering individual variables. We analyzed the association between the individual variables and bariatric surgery using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

In the study population of 814,703 women and 787,027 men, a total of 7433 women and 1961 men underwent bariatric surgery. In women, the hazard ratios (HRs) for bariatric surgery were higher for low and middle income and educational levels, compared to high income and educational levels. In men, the highest HR for bariatric surgery was found among those with a high income. The HRs when comparing the different socioeconomic groups in those with BMI > 40 kg/m2 showed no significant results, except for middle education in women.

Conclusion

Differences in bariatric surgery between socioeconomic groups were found, favoring those with a low socioeconomic status. However, very few socioeconomic differences were found amongst those who had a BMI > 40 kg/m2. This indicates that the Swedish healthcare system seems to have achieved equal access to health care for bariatric surgery.
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Metadata
Title
Socioeconomic factors, body mass index and bariatric surgery: a Swedish nationwide cohort study
Authors
Ensieh Memarian
Kristina Sundquist
Susanna Calling
Jan Sundquist
Xinjun Li
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6585-8

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