Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32440778›Full record

SynthesisObesity surgery2020

A Meta-analysis of the Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Back Pain.

Irena Stefanova, Andrew C Currie, Richard C Newton, Lorraine Albon, Guy Slater, William Hawkins, Christopher Pring

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Obesity surgery, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. [Association between weight-adjusted waist index and pain: A cross-sectional study].Beijing da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Peking University. Health sciences · 2025
    Article
  4. A retrospective cohort review of BMI on SI joint fusion outcomes: examining the evidence to improve insurance guidelines.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Pain is adversely related to weight loss maintenance following bariatric surgery.Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery · 2021
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Irena StefanovaDepartment of General Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK. irena.stefanova@nhs.net.ORCID 0000-0002-4024-0514
Andrew C CurrieRegional Oesophagogastric Unit, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK.
Richard C NewtonDepartment of Bariatric Surgery, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, UK.
Lorraine AlbonDepartment of Bariatric Surgery and Diabetes, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, UK.
Guy SlaterDepartment of Bariatric Surgery, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, UK.
William HawkinsDepartment of Bariatric Surgery, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, UK.
Christopher PringDepartment of Bariatric Surgery, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, UK.
St Richard's Hospital · GBRoyal Surrey County Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe functional aspects of obesity are increasingly recognised as a significant clinical and public health concern. Whilst there is substantial evidence for the beneficial impact of bariatric surgery on metabolic and cardiovascular disease, there is less understanding of the quantitative effect of bariatric surgery on back pain. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the impact of bariatric surgery on back pain in reported studies.

methodsMedline, Embase, conference proceedings and reference lists were searched for studies assessing quantitative back pain scores both before and after bariatric surgery. The primary outcome was visual analogue score for back pain pre- and post-bariatric surgery. Secondary outcomes were change in BMI, SF-36 quality of life scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores. Weighted mean differences (MD) were calculated for continuous outcomes.

resultsSeven studies were included in the analysis of 246 patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Mean study follow-up was between 3 and 24 months. There was a statistically significant reduction in visual analogue score for back pain following bariatric surgery (MD - 3.01; 95% CI - 4.19 to - 1.89; p < 0.001). Bariatric surgery also resulted in statistically significant improvements in BMI, SF-36 score and ODI score.

conclusionsBariatric surgery produces significant and quantifiable reductions in back pain. This may be commuted through reductions in axial load or improved quality of life, but further studies will improve understanding and aid preoperative counselling.

Indexed as

Bariatric SurgeryObesity, MorbidBack PainHumansQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeBack painBariatric surgeryQuality of lifeVisual analogue score

Identifiers

PMID32440778
OpenAlexW3027558452

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.