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Age-Related Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Early Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

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A Correction to this article was published on 26 October 2017

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Abstract

Background

Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is increasingly used as a prognostic indicator for early atherosclerosis and the development of cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study is to assess the exact effects of bariatric surgery on CIMT reduction in different age groups.

Methods

CIMT was measured just proximal to the bifurcation of the carotid artery in 166 patients with mean body mass index of 43.4 kg/m2 before and at 6 and 12 months after bariatric surgery. Preoperative CIMT and Framingham Risk Score (FRS) were compared to measurements at 6 and 12 months, postoperatively. Impact of age on CIMT change and cardiovascular risk reduction was analyzed.

Results

Median follow-up was 12 months; 12% were lost to follow-up. Mean CIMT values at 12 months after bariatric surgery were significantly lower compared to baseline (0.619 vs. 0.587 mm, p = 0.005 in women and 0.675 vs. 0.622 mm, p = 0.037 in men, respectively), and these effects were statistically significant in all age groups. The mean reduction of CIMT for patients < 50 years at 12 months was 0.043 mm (− 7.0%), while CIMT was reduced with 0.013 mm for patients ≥ 50 years (− 1.9%, p = 0.022). At 12 months after bariatric surgery, FRS had decreased with 52% in patients < 50 years as compared with 35% in patients ≥ 50 years (p = 0.025).

Conclusions

Bariatric surgery resulted in a significant CIMT decrease in patients with morbid obesity in all evaluated age categories. These beneficial effects of bariatric surgery were more pronounced in younger patients, while cardiovascular risk reduction by bariatric surgery appeared inferior in patients of 50 years and older.

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Change history

  • 26 October 2017

    Frederik H. W. Jonker and Vera A. A. van Houten contributed equally to this work.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Bendix R. Slegtenhorst, Evelien van Lierop, Remco Dubbeling, and Louise Groenendijk.

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Author notes

  1. Frederik H. W. Jonker contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Maasstad Hospital, Maasstadweg 21, 3079 DZ, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Frederik H. W. Jonker, Leontine H. Wijngaarden, René A. Klaassen, André A. E. A. de Smet & Erwin van der Harst

  2. Department of Surgery, Groene Hart Hospital, Gouda, Netherlands

    Vera A. A. van Houten

  3. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    André Niezen

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Lodewijk J. D. M. Schelfhout

  5. Department of Cardiology, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Tobias A. Bruning

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  1. Frederik H. W. Jonker
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  2. Vera A. A. van Houten
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Correspondence to Frederik H. W. Jonker.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Consent Statement

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Jonker, F.H.W., van Houten, V.A.A., Wijngaarden, L.H. et al. Age-Related Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Early Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction. OBES SURG 28, 1040–1046 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-2962-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-017-2962-5

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