The Incidence of Suicide Following Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Prognosis Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies.
Li-Feng Shang, Ke-Lu Yang, Xin-Yu Zhang et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined suicide incidence after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), using longitudinal studies identified through searches of four databases. Eighty-four studies were included. Pooled individual-level data yielded 230.64 suicides per 100,000 participants (95% CI: 167.51 to 317.49), while pooled person-year data yielded 43.02 suicides per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 32.49 to 56.97). The authors reported that the average incidence exceeded the 2019 WHO global estimate for the general population; certainty of evidence was low or very low.
Key findings
- Across pooled individual-level data, suicide incidence was 230.64 per 100,000 participants (95% CI: 167.51 to 317.49).
- Across pooled person-year data, incidence was 43.02 suicides per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 32.49 to 56.97).
- The review included 84 studies, and the evidence was rated low certainty or very low certainty.
Why it matters
The pooled estimates indicate that suicide is an important mental-health outcome to consider in the care of people undergoing MBS. The findings draw attention to psychological wellbeing alongside surgical outcomes, while the low or very low certainty of evidence means the estimates should be interpreted cautiously.
What to keep in mind
The evidence was rated low or very low certainty, limiting confidence in the pooled incidence estimates.