Results of Bariatric Surgery in Sana'a, Yemen, in 2019: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background The incidence of obesity and related comorbidities, such as diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and osteoarthritis, is increasing. Many patients with obesity do not respond to conservative treatments. For these patients, bariatric surgery, also known as metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), has emerged as an effective option. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of laparoscopic bariatric surgery on weight loss, diabetes remission, and improvement in other comorbidities among patients in Sana'a, Yemen, in 2019. Methods This prospective study included 50 patients who underwent laparoscopic MBS between January and December 2019 at three tertiary hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen. The procedures included sleeve gastrectomy (SG), single anastomosis sleeve ileal bypass (SASI), and single anastomosis duodenal ileal bypass with sleeve (SADI-S). Patients were followed for six months postoperatively. Data on demographics, baseline comorbidities, and preoperative anthropometrics were collected. Weight loss was measured using multiple metrics, including percentage excess weight loss (EWL), percentage excess body mass index lost (EBMIL), and percentage total body weight loss (TBWL). Diabetes remission was defined as achieving glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 6% without the use of medications. Results The study included 50 patients, with a mean age of 37.45 ± 10.25 years, and 28 (56%) were female. The mean preoperative weight was 121.5 ± 25.3 kg, and the mean height was 162.8 ± 8.5 cm, resulting in a mean body mass index (BMI) of 45.43 ± 7.3 kg/m². Among the patients, 15 (30%) had diabetes, 38 (76%) had GERD, and 45 (90%) had joint pain. At the six-month follow-up, the mean BMI significantly decreased to 32.46 ± 4.03 kg/m² (p < 0.001). The mean percentage of EBMIL was 63.5%, and the mean percentage of TBWL was 28.5%. Among the 15 patients with diabetes, 12 (80%) achieved diabetes remission, with HbA1c improving from 8.1 ± 2.3% to 5.3 ± 1.2% (p < 0.001). GERD improved in 30 (78.9%) of 38 patients, with complete resolution in 8 (21.1%). Joint pain improved in 39 (86.6%) of 45 patients, with complete resolution in six (13.4%). Conclusion Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is an effective intervention for achieving substantial weight loss, diabetes remission, and improvements in comorbidities among Yemeni patients. These findings are consistent with global literature and underscore the importance of bariatric surgery in addressing the increasing rates of obesity and metabolic disorders in Yemen. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term outcomes in this population.