Does Ethnicity Influence the Long-Term Outcomes of Sleeve Gastrectomy? Results from a Prospectively Maintained Israeli Database.

BACKGROUND

Ethnic disparities often influence patient's outcomes. This study aimed to compare the weight loss and metabolic outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish patients.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained cohort of 892 patients (262 Arabs and 630 Jews) who underwent LSG between 2009 and 2022 at a single tertiary academic center was retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, peri-operative, and long-term outcome data were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Arabs were younger (35 vs. 44 years) and had a higher baseline BMI (45.1 vs. 42.9). Jews had more postoperative follow-ups (6.8 vs. 6.0). Despite these differences, long-term weight loss outcomes were broadly comparable between groups. %EWL outcomes did not differ significantly at 1- and 5-year follow-up. Although Arab patients demonstrated numerically higher %TWL at 1 year, this difference did not reach statistical significance and was not sustained at longer-term follow-up. Rates of comorbidity remission, including diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, were similarly high.

CONCLUSION

Despite baseline ethnic disparities, LSG was associated with comparable long-term weight loss and comorbidity resolution among Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish patients.