Effect of sleeve gastrectomy on hypertension

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on blood pressure in private practice settings. This study involved a retrospective review of 870 consecutive adult patients >18 y of age who underwent LSG over a period of 12 mo in a private bariatric surgery center. Data were collected from the preoperative and postoperative follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo. The study population consists of 694 hypertensive and 176 normotensive patients. From the baseline to 12 mo after LSG, (1) mean body weight/body mass index decreased from 123 kg/44 kg/m² to 94 kg/34 kg/m² (P < .001); (2) mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients decreased from 131.9/79.9 to 127.6/77.1 mm Hg (P < .001); 3) only mean systolic blood pressure decreased in normotensive patients from 117.5 to 114.0 mm Hg (P < .001). One month after LSG, mean systolic blood pressure had decreased from 131.9 to 126.2 mm Hg (P < 0. 001) and the average number of antihypertensive medications per patient declined from 1.5 at the baseline to 0.6 (P < .001). Over the following 11 mo, blood pressure remained stable despite reduced antihypertensive therapy. Patients requiring more than two antihypertensive agents fell from 49% at the baseline to 22% at 12 mo. Hypertension resolved in 34% of patients. Linear regression analysis showed no association between change in body weight and change in systolic blood pressure. Within 1 mo of LSG, hypertensive patients experienced a significant decline in systolic blood pressure and antihypertensive therapy that remains unchanged at 12 mo in the face of major reductions in antihypertensive medications. Weight loss and blood pressure reduction may not be directly related.