Background

In 2017, the ADA recommended MBS for patients with T2DM and Body Mass Index (BMI) >= 40 (Class III obesity). The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the utilization of MBS for treatment of T2DM is increasing since the ADA guideline.

Methods

We reviewed primary bariatric procedures in patients with obesity and T2DM between 2018 to 2022 (excluding 2020-2021 due to the pandemic), using the MBS Accreditation Quality and Improvement Project (MBSAQIP) database. We obtained data on the number of diabetics in the U.S. from the National Diabetes Statistics Report published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Results

The incidence of newly diagnosed diabetic patients was about 1.5 million in 2018 and 1.2 million in 2021, and the overall prevalence of T2DM increased from 26.9 to 29.7 million people from 2018 to 2021 (10.4% increase).Overall, MBS cases increased from 169,786 (2018) to 204,073 (2022) for patients with class I-III obesity. The number of patients with T2DM who underwent MBS increased from 43,742 (2018) to 47,558 (2022) (8.7% increase). The number of patients with both T2DM and class III obesity undergoing MBS increased from 30,917 (2018) to 33,798 (2022) (9.3% increase), which was lower than the increased prevalence of T2DM in the U.S. at 10.4% over the same period.

Conclusions

Although there has been some increase in MBS procedures performed overall, and specifically in patients with T2DM, the growth in number of surgical procedures has not kept pace with the increasing prevalence of T2DM.