Metabolic and bariatric surgery in China: A summary of the Greater China Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Database and comparison with other international registry databases

AIMS: To summarize the Greater China Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Database (GC-MBD) and to compare patient characteristics and different procedures performed with data from published reports from other international bariatric surgery registries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the GC-MBD registry in 2021. Baseline demographic characteristics, obesity-related comorbidities and operational information were analysed. Descriptive comparisons of these data were made with the published reports from four other international/national databases, including the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) registry, the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database of the United States, the National Bariatric Surgical Registry (NBSR) of the United Kingdom, and the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry (SOReg). RESULTS: Fifty-three centres in China registered 6807 cases in the GC-MBD. Compared with published data from the IFSO registry, MBSAQIP, NBSR and SOReg, patients in China undergoing surgery were younger and had a lower body mass index. The incidence of other obesity-related comorbidities, except for gastroesophageal reflux disease, was also higher than in Western countries. Furthermore, more patients underwent sleeve gastrectomy, less revisional bariatric surgery was reported in China, and jejunojejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy, uncommon in other countries, was China's second-leading bariatric procedure. CONCLUSIONS: By establishing comprehensive national registries such as the GC-MBD, real-world information can be gathered on clinical practice and patient outcomes. Insights into variations in clinical practice can be identified by comparing reports from different countries, which can help in making and evaluating healthcare policies on the best clinical practices at a national level.