Bariatric endoscopy procedure type or follow-up: What predicted success at 1 year in 962 obese patients?

Abstract Background and study aims It is uncertain if the difference in weight loss outcomes between different endoscopic bariatric therapies (EBTs) is technique-related or multidisciplinary team (MDT) follow-up-related. We hypothesized that at 1 year, the weight loss is determined more by adherence to MDT follow-up than by procedure type. We aimed to compare 1 year weight loss outcomes of four different EBTs at a single center with a standardized MDT follow-up. Patients and methods We prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed outcomes in 962 patients (female-691, 71.2 %; mean age, 44.8 ± 10.6 years, mean BMI, 37.8 ± 5.9 Kg/m2) treated with Intragastric balloons (IGBs) or endoscopic gastroplasty (EG) at HM Sanchinarro University Hospital between March 2012 to January 2017. The procedures were performed by the same endoscopist and followed up by the same MDT. We compared the percentage total body weight loss (%TWBL) at 1 year. We performed linear and logistic regression to identify predictive factors for weight loss and follow-up adherence at 1 year. Results Four hundred and eighty-one IGBs (Orbera-80.9 %; ReShape Duo-19.1 %), and 481 EG (Apollo ESG-51.3 %; Primary obesity surgery endoluminal-POSE-48.6 %) were performed. Only 480 patients (IGB- 45 %; EG- 55 %) completed 1 year follow-up. Among them, Apollo ESG achieved significantly higher TBWL (19.5 ± 13 %, P = 0.035), %TBWL (17.4 ± 10.2 %, P = 0.025), and ≥ 20 % TBWL (36.7 %, P = 0.032). However, in linear regression after adjusting for variables, only higher initial BMI (B = 0.31, P < 0.001) and higher percentage follow-up attendance (B = 0.24, P < 0.001) significantly predicted %TBWL at 1 year in the completion group but not the procedure type (B = 0.02, P = 0.72). In logistic regression, we observed female sex (P = 0.01), high initial BMI (P < 0.001), endoscopic gastroplasty (P = 0.04), and high 1-month %TBWL (P < 0.001) significantly predicted follow-up completion at 1 year. Conclusions Weight loss at 1 year is dependent on MDT follow-up rather than procedure type. Endoscopic gastroplasty promoted follow-up adherence more than IGBs.