PErioperAtive CHildhood obesitY (PEACHY)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PErioperAtive CHildhood obesitY (PEACHY): A prospective observational cohort study investigating the proportion of overweight and obese children presenting for a procedure under general anaesthesia in the UK and the incidence of preoperative adverse outcomes in this patient group
IRAS ID
248493
Contact name
Mark Edwards
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 29 days
Research summary
The incidence of childhood obesity is at epidemic levels and increasing in the UK. Obese adults are considered a high-risk group of patients for general anaesthesia with published national guidelines on the best practice management.
The proportion of children presenting for a procedure under general anaesthesia in the UK who are overweight or obese is currently unknown. Obese children are perceived to be at greater risk of complications from general anaesthesia. Previous non-UK studies suggest they take longer to recover from anaesthesia, require more medications to combat nausea and vomiting and are at greater risk of complications that may threaten their airway and breathing.
This study involves reviewing the anaesthetic care record and patient notes to collect information relating to general anaesthesia and basic demograhic data in children aged 2-16 years presenting for a procedure under general anaesthesia.
The aims of this study are to establish the prevalence of obesity in the paediatric surgical population (i.e. the proportion of children attending UK hospitals for procedures under general anaesthesia who are overweight or obese) and to ascertain whether obese children are at increased risk compared to their healthy weight counterparts.
This information will be used with the goal of reducing avoidable harm both at national and local level in the future. It will raise awareness of the prevalence of obesity in UK children having surgery, highlighting the additional risks involved for these children. Future harm reduction strategies may include pre-operative education of children and parents regarding childhood obesity, and increased input from clinicians in the pre-operative period in terms of optimisation of these children prior to surgery.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0394
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion