Brian J Shea, MD1, William Boyan, MD1, Jonathan Decker, MD1, Ethan Paulin, MD1, Vincent Almagno, BS2, Wiley Abbott, BS2, Joseph Bahgat, BS2, Gurdeep Matharoo, MD, FACS, FASMBS1, Steven Binenbaum, MD, FACS, FASMBS1, Frank Borao1. 1Monmouth Medical Center, 2St. George’s University School of Medicine
Introduction: Bariatric surgery has been demonstrated to improve obesity related comorbidities and be superior to medical therapy alone. Many of these trials demonstrating this benefit studied patient populations at average risk for surgery, which typically included younger patients. This study seeks to examine the safety of bariatric surgery in the over 60 population, and to determine if these patients share the same the benefits in terms of weight as their younger counterparts.
Methods and Procedures: The records of all patients undergoing bariatric surgery at a bariatric surgery center of excellence were examined between January 2012 and December 2016. Patients were separated into two groups; those over the age of 60 and those under age 60. Data for perioperative factors were then recorded, including length of stay, complications, thirty day readmission and reoperation. Follow up data was then recorded, including patient’s excess body weight loss and percentage change in body mass index. Weight loss was followed over four time intervals: one week post-operative, short term (1-3 months) intermediate term (4-8 months) and long term (9 months to last available follow up). Student’s T Test and Chi square analysis was used to determine if differences in the above characteristics were statistically significant.
Results: There were 90 patients in the over 60 group, and 453 in the under 60 group. Average age in these groups were 64.3 years and 42.9 years respectively. Average ASA classification was significantly higher in the over 60 group (3.01 vs. 2.76; p<0.001). There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay between groups (2.3 vs 2.1; p=0.15). Rates of complications were similar between groups (7.7% vs 5.1%; p=0.5). There was also no statistically significant difference in readmission (2.2% vs 3.5%; p=0.5) or reoperation (11% vs. 9%; p=0.55). The mean follow up time for patients in the over 60 group was 14.2 months, and 12.1 months in the under 60 group. In terms of weight loss, with longer term follow up younger patients experienced more excess body weight loss (54.7% vs 46.2%; p=0.008).
Conclusion: The results of this series demonstrate that bariatric surgery in elderly patients is not only safe, but effective. Although younger patients tended to lose more weight, elderly patients still lost a clinically significant amount of weight. Age alone should not preclude a patient from undergoing bariatric evaluation.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 94775
Program Number: P100
Presentation Session: Poster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster
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