Effect of deep brain stimulation on postoperative body mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is FDA-approved for several movement disorders; such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and neuropsychiatric disorders. There are various reports of Body mass index (BMI) changes following different DBS targets in various disorders.

A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the impact of DBS on patients' Body Mass Index (BMI) and provide an in-depth overview of its underlying mechanisms.

We conducted research according to PRISMA guidelines. Our study assessed comprehensively electronic databases, including Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, web of science, and the Cochrane Library, up to May 2024. The random-effect model analysis was performed by the Comprehensive Meta-analysis software (CMA) version 3.0. As well, Cochran’s Q test was used to determine the statistical heterogeneity of included studies.

This systematic review ultimately included 49 studies, 46 of which entered the meta-analysis. The total number of patients was 1478, consisting of Parkinson's disease (PD), dystonia, and the obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. The most common DBS target was subthalamic nucleus, followed by globus pallidus internus (GPi). Our meta-analysis depicted the BMI of participants significantly mount after DBS electrode implantation (SMD = -0.542, 95%CI: -0.678 to -0.406, and P-value < 0.001). However, moderate to high heterogeneity was detected among the studies (I² = 67.566%). Additionally, the Daily energy intake (DEI) of patients significantly decreased after DBS (SMD: 0.457, 95%CI; 0.205 to 0.709, and P-value < 0.001).

STN and GPi DBS can lead to weight gain through distinct central pathways in various movement and neuropsychiatric disorders, posing a potential risk for obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.