A new study has learned that there is a significant reduction in death tolls among patients who got bariatric surgery.
Death Tolls Reduced Among Patients Who Underwent Bariatric Surgery
According to experts, multiple studies associate bariatric surgery with mortality outcomes. The new study followed a group's reported mortality outcomes after a gastric bypass surgery up to 40 years, EurekAlert! reported.
The researcher used data from Utah Population Database (UPDB), which included population-based information from Utah with statewide birth and death certificates, driver licenses and ID cards, and voter registration cards. The UPDB creates and maintains the link between the database and medical records by the two largest healthcare providers in the state.
They have records of patients who had undergone bariatric surgery in Utah between 1982 and 2018. They also have a record of non-surgical patients selected from Utah driver's license records or ID cards. They matched nearly 22,000 participants (1:1) for age, sex, body mass index and surgery date with a driver's license/renewal date.
The mortality rates were compared by Cox regression and stratified by sex, surgery type and age at surgery. In contrast, mortality after gastric bypass surgery was previously reported from 1984 to 2002. The study extends mortality follow-up through 2021.
The study revealed that all-cause mortality was 16% lower in patients with bariatric surgery than in their non-surgical counterparts. A low mortality rate was also observed for both males and females.
Mortality after surgery versus non-surgery decreased by 29% for those with cardiovascular disease, 43% for cancer, and 72% for those with diabetes.
The "Long-term All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality for Four Bariatric Surgery Procedures" study will be published in the February 2023 print edition of Obesity.
Bariatric Surgery Improves Quality of Life, Increases Life Expectancy
Jihad Kudsi, MD, MBA, MSF, DABOM, FASMBS, FACS, Bariatric Surgery Division, Duly Health and Care, Downers Grove, Ill, said the new study supports the mounting evidence that bariatric surgery does not only improve one's quality of life but also stretches their life expectancy. He was hopeful that the study would improve patients' access to obesity treatment, which is still limited to only 1% of qualified patients.
He also commended the study for highlighting the significance of providing more resources for pre-surgical psychological screening and post-surgery follow-up, especially for younger patients.
Kudsi was not involved in the research.
What is Bariatric Surgery?
Gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries are collectively known as bariatric surgery, according to Mayo Clinic. The process involves changing the digestive system to help one lose weight.
Bariatric surgery is done when diet and exercise haven't worked or when one has a serious health problem due to weight.
Some procedures limit how much the patient can eat, while other works by reducing the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Some procedures do both.
Bariatric surgery offers many health benefits. However, it also comes with risks.
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