Assessing Short-Term Quality of Life Changes After Bariatric Surgery: A Longitudinal Study

Introduction: Bariatric surgery effectively reduces body weight and remiss diseases associated with obesity. However, it may cause short- and long-term postoperative complications that can change lifestyle habits. Objective: To evaluate short-term changes in the quality of life of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Methods: This observational prospective cohort study was conducted in three stages: preoperative and two and six postoperative months. It was carried out at the outpatient clinic of a bariatric surgery program of a university hospital in the Brazilian Southeast. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Bref was used. Data analysis: Kruskal-Wallis test; T-test for unpaired samples, p≤0.05. Results: The sample consisted of 60 patients, most of whom were women. The postoperative period showed an increase in physical health scores, reduced social relations and environment ones, and unchanged psychological ones. The mean number of diseases associated with obesity and the number of daily medications decreased but the number of patients who used psychotropic drugs after surgery increased, showing less weight loss. Conclusion: Patients showed improved physical health but reported negative impacts on social relationships and the environment after the bariatric surgery. Comorbidities and medication use decreased but the number of patients using psychotropic drugs increased.