Predictors of glycemic control after sleeve gastrectomy versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a meta-analysis, meta-regression and systematic review

Abstract Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are the most commonly performed bariatric procedures globally. However, it remains controversial which procedure provides better glycemic control. To identify predictors of glycemic control after SG versus RYGB, a systematic search of PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were conducted up to January 2017 for comparative studies with both SG and RYGB arms for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). A meta-analysis and systematic review was performed to evaluate glycemic control after SG versus RYGB with both short- and long-term follow-up. A meta-regression was performed to evaluate impacts of clinical indicators on glycemic control after SG versus RYGB. A total of 17 comparative studies involving 1160 patients were included. SG and RYGB achieved similar diabetic remission rate with both short- and long-term follow-up. However, SG provided lower endpoint glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) after 1-year follow-up (MD = 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-0.31, P  = 0.02). When adjusted by baseline A1C, SG and RYGB provided similar percent delta A1C with 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year follow-up. The baseline body mass index, duration of T2D, preoperative fasting plasma glucose and A1C had predictive value for glycemic control after SG, while only duration of T2D and preoperative A1C were correlated with that after RYGB. These findings showed that the choice of procedure between SG and RYGB predicts no better glycemic control. However, more factors should be considered when SG is recommended to a given patient with diabetes.