JMIR research protocols
Clinical, Economic, and System-Level Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in Adults: Protocol for a Systematic Review
By Bystram M, Robakowska M and Proczko-Stepaniak M.
Abstract
Background
Obesity affects approximately 880 million adults worldwide and carries substantial health, economic, and social consequences. Although bariatric surgery achieves sustained weight loss and metabolic improvement, existing systematic reviews largely predate 2020 and rarely integrate clinical, economic, and system-level perspectives within a single synthesis.
Objective
This study aims to identify, critically appraise, and synthesize evidence published between 2020 and 2025 on the clinical effectiveness and economic impact of bariatric surgery in adults with obesity. A secondary, exploratory objective is to address system-level resource utilization, specifically length of stay, preoperative pathway duration, and outpatient care burden.