AQUAS publishes a systematic review on effectiveness and safety of bariatric surgery
The Catalan Health Quality and Assessment Agency (AQUAS) has conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing evidence on efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery in obese patients compared to non-surgical treatment through diet and/or pharmacological treatment. The study also investigated separately the effect of bariatric surgery on patients affected by obesity and diabetes.
The review was conducted through the Criteria of Cochrane Collaboration and the GRADE methodology for assessment of evidence quality and concluded that bariatric surgery is more effective in the short and medium term than non-surgical therapy in achieving clinically relevant decreases in both weight and BMI, or in the remission of diabetes. However, more evidence is required to confirm whether these differences between surgery and medical treatment are maintained in the long-term.