Inequity to the Utilization of Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review explores the sociodemographic factors associated with the utilization of bariatric surgery among eligible patients. Electronic databases were searched for population-based studies that explored the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics of patients eligible for bariatric surgery to those who actually received the procedure. Twelve retrospective cohort studies were retrieved, of which the results of 9 studies were pooled using a random effects model. Patients who received bariatric surgery were significantly more likely to be white versus non-white (OR 1.54; 95 % CI 1.08, 2.19), female versus male (OR 2.80; 95 % CI 2.46, 3.22), and have private versus government or public insurance (OR 2.51; 95 % CI 1.04, 6.05). Prospective cohort studies are warranted to further determine the relative effect of these factors, adjusting for confounding factors.