MBSAQIP risk calculator use in bariatric surgery is associated with a reduction in serious complications: a retrospective analysis of 210,710 patients.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Metabolic and Bariatric Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Bariatric Surgical Risk/Benefit Calculator was developed to provide patient-specific information to assist surgical decision-making. To date, no study has characterized which patients are being evaluated with this tool. OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize the use and impact of the MBSAQIP calculator. SETTING: MBSAQIP collects data from 955 centers in North America. METHODS: The 2021 MBSAQIP database was evaluated for the use of the calculator on preoperative counseling for patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Patient characteristics, operative techniques, and outcomes were compared with bivariate analysis. Multivariable modeling evaluated factors including use of the calculator independently associated with serious complications and mortality. RESULTS: Our study included 210,710 patients, 35,158 (16.7%) of whom were evaluated using the calculator. Patients with whom the calculator was used preoperatively were older (43.8 ± 11.6 yr versus 43.6 ± 11.7 yr; P < .001) and were more likely to have insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, renal insufficiency, and sleep apnea. More patients underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the calculator cohort compared with the cohort that did not use the calculator (29.6% versus 28.6%; P < .003). The rate of serious complication was significantly less in the calculator cohort (3.1% versus 3.4%; P < .030). Multivariable modeling evaluating serious complications showed that use of the calculator was independently associated with reduced risk of serious complications (odds ratio .87, CI .82-.93, P < .001) but was not associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: The use of the risk calculator may help to reduce the incidence of complications by opening a dialogue between healthcare professionals and patients, setting realistic expectations, and identifying modifiable risk factors.