Bariatric Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic from Patients Point of ViewThe Results of a National Survey

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bariatric care from the patients� point of view The COVID-19 pandemic has perturbed the functioning of healthcare systems around the world and led to changes in elective surgical care, with bariatric procedures being postponed until the end of pandemic There is no data in the literature about the effect of a new epidemiological situation on bariatric patients Methods: The study was designed as an online survey containing multiple open questions about bariatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic The survey was conducted among pre- and postoperative bariatric patients Results: Out of 800 respondents, 74 53% felt anxiety about their health in regard to the present epidemiologic state Some (72 25%) were aware of the fact that obesity was an important risk factor that could impair the course of the COVID-19 disease Almost 30% of respondents admitted having put on weight, significantly more in the group of preoperative patients (43 8% vs 22 69%;p l0 001) Only 20 92% of patients had a possibility of continuing direct bariatric care;67 3% of patients had an opportunity of remote contact with a bariatric specialist, including online consultations, teleconsultations and social media meetings Conclusions: Limited access to medical care and quarantine lockdown may result in a deterioration of long-time operation outcomes and lower weight losses Patients should be encouraged to profit from online consultations with specialists and telemedicine to reduce the negative effects of the pandemic on their health