[Obesity associated risk using Edmonton staging in bariatric surgery]

Area of Science:

• Obesity Medicine
• Surgical Risk Stratification
• Public Health

Background:

• Morbid obesity affects 1.2% of the Spanish population.
• Current bariatric surgery criteria lack consideration for comorbidities and functional status.
• There is a need for improved staging systems to predict mortality and prioritize treatment for bariatric surgery candidates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the Edmonton staging system to patients undergoing pre-bariatric surgery evaluation.
• To assess the utility of the Edmonton staging system in stratifying risk among individuals seeking bariatric surgery.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 81 patients awaiting bariatric surgery was studied.
• Data collected included weight, height, BMI, biochemical parameters, blood pressure, and presence of comorbidities (hepatic, renal, osteoarticular diseases, sleep apnea, GERD).
• The ten-variable Edmonton staging system was applied to each patient.

Main Results:

• The study included 67% women with an average age of 47 years and an average BMI of 47 (90% >40).
• Significant comorbidity prevalence included sleep apnea (34%) and gastroesophageal reflux (25%).
• Applying the Edmonton staging, 11% were in the highest risk stage (3), 70% in high risk (stage 2), and 18% in low risk (stage 1).

Conclusions:

• The Edmonton staging system provides valuable insights into the presence and extent of comorbidities, aiding clinical decision-making.
• The system's mortality-predictive capability can assist in determining the urgency of bariatric surgery.
• Implementing the Edmonton staging system can lead to better-defined criteria for prioritizing bariatric surgery candidates.