Bariatric Surgery Outcomes in Patients Aged 65 Years and Older at an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence

Although morbid obesity rates in patients ≥65 years of age are increasing, few centers have reported weight loss surgery outcomes in elderly patients, resulting in a paucity of literature on perioperative mortality and morbidity.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 197 consecutive patients ≥65 years old who underwent weight loss surgery from January 2000 to December 2007. Primary data points included 30-day and 1-year mortality rates, length of stay (LOS), percent excess weight loss (EWL), change in daily medication use, and quality of life (QOL).

The average patient's age was 67.3 years with 72.1% being female. Average preoperative weight and BMI were 131.9 kg and 48.1 kg/m², respectively. Average preoperative daily medication use was 8.04 ± 3.67. Procedure types included Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (79.3%), adjustable gastric banding (17.2%), and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (3%). Ninety-seven percent of procedures were performed laparoscopically. Average LOS was 2.0 ± 2.1 days. Average weight, BMI, and daily medication use were significantly reduced at 6 months and 1 year (p < 0.001), with patients achieving an average EWL of 44.5% and 55.3% at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. QOL scores improved at 6 months (p < 0.001) and 1 year (p = 0.049). In all patients, the 30-day mortality rate was 0%. The 1-year mortality rate for RYGB patients was 1.3%. Complication rates were acceptable, with 7% of RYGB patients experiencing a major postoperative complication.

Weight loss surgery is effective in patients ≥65 years of age, producing significant EWL, reduction in daily medication use, and improvement in QOL. Surgery is also associated with a low mortality rate and an acceptable morbidity profile.