Poster Presentation ANZOS-Breakthrough Discoveries Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

Program characteristics and patient outcomes: An update from the ACT Health Obesity Management Service (#305)

Louise Brightman 1 , Paul Dugdale 1 , Hsin-Chia Carol Huang 1 2 3
  1. Obesity Management Service, ACT Health, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  2. Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Department, The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  3. College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

 

Background

The ACT Health Obesity Management Service (OMS) has been providing comprehensive management of adults with severe obesity since 2014.1 The OMS offers medically-led allied health support and intensive interventions including Very Low Energy Diets (VLEDs), pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery. Mandatory group education sessions prior to individual case management were introduced in 2016. This study aims to determine current program characteristics and patient outcomes and to compare with previously reported OMS data.2

 

Methodology

A retrospective chart audit was performed on new OMS patients who presented between July 2016 and June 2017. Inclusion criteria comprised patients who underwent an initial medical review. Existing OMS patients and those who did not attend an initial medical review were excluded. Patient demographics, service engagement and anthropometric data were collated through to June 2018.

 

Results

162 patients were identified. Mean age was 45.1 years (range 17-72). Females outnumbered males (73.5%). Median weight was 135.5kg (IQR 121.8-150.8). Median BMI was 48.5kg/m2 (IQR 43.3-53.5). 59 patients (36.4%) discontinued after initial medical review. Reasons for attrition included not meeting OMS eligibility criteria, self-discharge and non-engagement. Of those who engaged with the program (n=103), median weight change was -4.0kg (IQR -9.6-0.0) and median percentage weight change was -3.1% (IQR -7.0-0.0). 27 patients (26.2%) completed VLED, 16 (15.5%) trialled one or more medications and three (2.9%) underwent privately funded bariatric surgery. A total of 37 patients (35.9%) achieved clinically significant weight loss (≥5% reduction in weight) compared to 20.4% observed in a previous OMS study.2

 

Conclusions

Favourable differences were observed in all outcomes when compared to previously reportedly OMS data.2 Recent changes in OMS service provision including mandatory education sessions and greater utilisation of intensive interventions may account for the increased proportion of patients achieving clinically significant weight loss.

 

  1. ACT Health 2016. Obesity Management Service. ACT Government. Available from: http://health.act.gov.au/our-services/chronic-disease-management/chronic-disease-services/obesity-management-service
  2. Kojima C et al. Patient outcome audit in ACT Health Obesity Management Service. Internal Medicine Journal (RACP Congress Abstract) 2017. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.7_13461