Obesity is known to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (heart attack and stroke). However, few studies have assessed the impact of weight-loss surgery on the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of gastric bypass surgery on the estimated risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a population of 500 patients following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGP) surgery.
The 1-year average excess weight loss among the 500 patients was 68.7%. There was a dramatic reduction in the prevalence of diabetes from 28% to 6%. The average 10-year absolute risk of cardiac events decreased from 5.4% at baseline to 2.7% after 1 year (a 50% reduction). An even greater risk reduction was observed among diabetics where the risk of a heart attack fell by 63%.
Comment
This large study confirms the dramatic reduction in the risk of heart disease conferred by RYGP. In non-diabetic patients the 10-year risk of a heart attack was halved, and in the diabetic group the risk was reduced by two-thirds. The 78% reduction in the prevalence of diabetes was especially striking. Taken together these data confirm the enormously beneficial impact of RYGP on cardiovascular risk.
Torquati A, Wright K, Melvin W, Richards W. Effect of gastric bypass operation on Framingham and actual risk of cardiovascular events in class II to III obesity.
J Am Coll Surg 2007; 204: 776-82
