Abstract
Background Hispanic populations in the United States (U.S.) experience a disproportionate burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes but remain underrepresented in bariatric surgery research. These populations are often treated as a single ethnic group, masking important intra-ethnic differences in health outcomes.
Methods We studied 204 self-identified Hispanic patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy (SG) at two New York City hospitals—one private academic and one public safety-net. Percent total weight loss (TWL) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) outcomes were analyzed across subgroups defined by country of birth using multivariable linear models adjusted for age, sex, baseline body mass index (BMI), and hospital site. Associations between years lived in the U.S. and TWL were evaluated using similar multivariable models with the same covariate adjustment.
Results South American-born patients had lower TWL at 12 and 24 months. Mexican-born patients had higher pre-surgery and 1.5 months HbA1c compared with other groups. Longer U.S. residence was associated with lower TWL at 12 months.
Conclusion Substantial heterogeneity in postoperative outcomes exists among Hispanic subgroups, highlighting the limitations of pan-ethnic categorizations. Findings underscore the need for ethnic-tailored postoperative care and support strategies to optimize outcomes and address disparities in this heterogenous population.
Keywords Obesity · Diabetes · Health disparities · Immigrant health · Minority health