Faculty Collaboration Database

The effect of marijuana use on short-term outcomes with bariatric surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2023 Sep;19(9):964-970

Date

05/05/2023

Pubmed ID

37142472

DOI

10.1016/j.soard.2023.02.025

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85156182369 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   2 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing marijuana use nationwide, there are limited data on implications of marijuana use on bariatric surgery outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated associations between marijuana use and bariatric surgery outcomes.

SETTING: Multicenter statewide study utilizing data from the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative, a payor-funded consortium including over 40 hospitals and 80 surgeons performing bariatric surgery statewide.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative clinical registry on patients who underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass between June 2019 and June 2020. Patients were surveyed at baseline and annually on medication use, depression symptoms, and substance use. Regression analysis was performed to compare 30-day and 1-year outcomes between marijuana users and nonusers.

RESULTS: Of 6879 patients, 574 reported baseline marijuana use and 139 reported use at baseline and 1 year. Marijuana users were more likely to be current smokers (14% versus 8%, P < .0001), screen positive for alcohol use disorder (20.0% versus 8.4%, P < .0001), and score higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (6.1 versus 3.0, P < .0001). There were no statistically significant differences in 30-day outcomes or co-morbidity remission at 1 year. Marijuana users had higher adjusted total mean weight loss (47.6 versus 38.1 kg, P < .0001) and body mass index reduction (17 versus 14 kg/m², P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Marijuana use is not associated with worse 30-day outcomes or 1-year weight loss outcomes and should not be a barrier to bariatric surgery. However, marijuana use is associated with higher rates of smoking, substance use, and depression. These patients may benefit from additional mental health and substance abuse counseling.

Author List

Janes LA, Hammond JW, Bonham AJ, Carlin AM, Ghaferi AA, Varban OA, Ehlers AP, Finks JF

Author

Amir Ghaferi MD President, Phys Enterprise & SAD Clinical Affairs in the Medical College Physicians Administration department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Bariatric Surgery
Gastrectomy
Gastric Bypass
Humans
Laparoscopy
Marijuana Use
Obesity, Morbid
Retrospective Studies
Substance-Related Disorders
Treatment Outcome
Weight Loss