Improvement in comorbidities after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in patients older than 60

Objective
Increasing prevalence of obesity and aging is clearly visible according to World Health Organization (WHO). The risk of death increases within the gain of body mass. We performed an analysis of the improvement in obesity complications – type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) – in people above 60 years old, who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Material and methods
A retrospective analysis included 21 patients aged 60 years and over who underwent LSG at the Policlinic Municipal Hospital in Olsztyn from 2013 to 2016. Patients were followed at 6, 12, 24, 36 months after the surgery via personal consultations at the Clinic or telephone conversations. The data analyzed included obesity complications and their improvement or resolution as well as age, gender, pre- and postoperative body mass and body mass index (BMI).

Results
21 patients above 60 years old, diagnosed with type 2 DM, HT or both, underwent LSG. Twelve patients were diagnosed with both type 2 DM and HT and 9 with HT only. Only 3 patients had not noticed any improvement in obesity complications for the time of follow-up, while the rest at least modified the doses of medications. In 9 cases, at least in one of the diseases, the resolution was observed. The mean BMI after 6 months was 34.4 kg/m², 12 months – 33.7 kg/m², 24 months – 35.3 kg/m² and 36 months – 34.9 kg/m², while the mean %EWL was 42.2%, 44.4%, 40.0% and 42.2%, respectively.

Conclusions
LSG is a valuable and safe method for elderly patients to improve obesity complications as well as to decrease body mass. The outcomes of our study suggest that bariatric surgery may improve patients’ quality of life.