Benefits and risks of bariatric surgery in patients aged more than 60 years

The benefits and risks of bariatric surgery are debated in older patients. The objective of this study was to compare the weight changes and adverse outcomes in patients>60 years and in younger ones.

The French SOFFCO registry was screened for gastric bypass (RYGB), gastric banding (LAGB), or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) performed between 2007 and 2010. Adverse outcomes and weight changes (%) over 12 months were compared between patients<40 years (N = 1379), between 40-59 years (N = 1065), and>60 years (N = 164).

After a RYGB surgical (12.3 versus 3.8%; P = .03) and nonsurgical (7.0% versus .8%; P = .01) complications were more prevalent in patients above 60 years than in those below 40. No increased prevalence of surgical and nonsurgical complications was seen after a LAGB or a SG. Weight loss (% of initial weight) was lower after a LAGB than after a RYGB or a SG. After LAGB weight loss (%) did not differ between patients above 60 years and those aged<40 (difference 1.7±1.5%, P = .26). After a RYGB weight loss (%) was lower in patients aged>60 years (-5.6±1.7%, P = .001) than in those aged<40 years. After a SG, weight loss (%) was lower in patients aged>60 years (-7.0±2.6%, P = .01) than in those aged<40 years.

Bariatric surgery can be a short-term effective and safe therapeutic option in elderly patients. LAGB or SG appears to be an alternative strategy to RYGB, with lower adverse outcome rate.