Indications and Coverage of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Worldwide IFSO Survey Comparing Different National Guidelines

Abstract

Introduction: Knowing how metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is indicated in different countries is essential information for the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).

Aim: To analyze the indications for MBS recommended by each of the national societies that comprise the IFSO and how MBS is financed in their countries.

Methods: All IFSO societies were asked to fill out a survey asking whether they have, and which are their national guidelines, and if MBS is covered by their public health service.

Results: Sixty-three out of the 72 IFSO national societies answered the form (87.5%). Among them, 74.6% have some kind of guidelines regarding indications for MBS. Twenty-two percent are still based on the US National Institute of Health (NIH) 1991 recommendations, 43.5% possess guidelines midway the 1991s and ASMBS/IFSO 2022 ones, and 34% have already adopted the latest ASMBS/IFSO 2022 guidelines. MBS was financially covered in 65% of the countries.

Conclusions: Most of the IFSO member societies have MBS guidelines. While more than a third of them have already shifted to the most updated ASMBS/IFSO 2022 ones, another significant number of countries are still following the NIH 1991 guidelines or even do not have any at all. Besides, there is a significant number of countries in which surgical treatment is not yet financially covered. More effort is needed to standardize indications worldwide and to influence insurers and health policymakers to increase the coverage of MBS.

Keywords: ASMBS; Bariatric surgery; Coverage; Guidelines; IFSO; Indications; Metabolic surgery.