Feasibility and Impacts of a Prebariatric Surgery Exercise Training in Telehealth: a Pilot Study

Background: Obesity class II and III increased most rapidly over the past 25 years in Canada and USA. This alarming situation has significantly increased the number of bariatric surgeries performed in North America (101,645 surgeries in 2011). Indeed, bariatric surgery has demonstrated its long-term efficacy in maintaining significant weight loss and in lowering mortality, while reducing the health-care costs of obesity. Unfortunately, bariatric surgery does not always present optimal results in terms of weight loss and resolution of comorbidities, and may be the cause of perioperative complications. The effectiveness of bariatric surgery and the number of perioperative complications are influenced by various factors such as initial weight or physical fitness/activity. For this reasons, various experts recommend regular physical activity in order to optimize the results of bariatric surgery and to decrease perioperative morbidity. However, no interventional studies including pre-surgery exercise training is available in the literature. Preliminary results showed that a supervised Pre-Surgical Exercise Training (PreSET) is feasible and improved physical fitness and quality of life and decreased embarrassment during exercise (Baillot et al. 2013). However, 71.3 % (n = 57) of patients who refused to participate in PreSET explain their refusal because of their schedule, reduced mobility or distance from the hospital. Telehealth is growing and often used for the rehabilitation of cardiac and pulmonary patients. Indeed, it allows to provide equal access to care for people who are geographically remote and are physically and economically disadvantaged. Studies showed that telehealth improve the quality of health care, and may be as effective as face to face meetings to improve the health of patients. The recent decrease in costs related to the equipment makes this intervention modality more accessible. However, no study is available in subjects awaiting bariatric surgery.

Hypothesis and Objectives: Investigators hypothesize that a Telehealth Pre-Surgical Exercise Training (telePreSET) is feasible and will improve the health, physical fitness, quality of life, compliance and satisfaction of subjects. The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility in the "Clinique medico-chirurgicale du traitement de l'obésité de Sherbrooke" (CMCTO) of the telePreSET and its impact on health, physical fitness, quality of life and satisfaction of subjects.

Method: 6 subjects awaiting bariatric surgery will be recruited. In addition to usual care, subjects will perform before bariatric surgery additional sessions of supervised endurance and resistance exercise training. Subjects will be instructed to perform two supervised exercise sessions per week with telehealth plus one without supervision during 12 weeks. The following outcomes will be assessed in the different groups before and after the telePreSET, then 12 months after bariatric surgery: 1- physical fitness (6MWT, maximal strength, symptom-limited cardiac exercise test); 2-health related quality of life (Laval questionnaire); 3-weight, height, body composition (bioelectrical impedance scale); 4-comorbidities and metabolic parameters (files and blood samples); 5-exercise beliefs (Physical Exercise Belief questionnaire); 6-physical activity (GPA Questionnaire and actimeter). The feasibility will be assessed with a satisfaction questionnaire concerning PA management, dropout and compliance rates, as well as the number of injuries and accidents.

Issue: The results of this research will give us preliminary data for future projects in order to improve support for bariatric surgery candidates to assure optimal results for their health. Also, we will contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge, absent in the current literature in this population.