Surgical Morbidity in the Elderly Bariatric Patient: Does Age Matter?

Obesity is a global health problem that also affects older adults. In Chile, as in most of the developing countries, more than half of older adults are overweight or obese, and bariatric surgery may be riskier for this group. The aim of this study is to compare our experience in patients over 60 years of age with a control group to determine associated surgical morbidity and mortality.

Case-control study of bariatric surgeries performed between 2006 and 2017 in our institution. Patients aged ≥ 60 years for the case group versus control group for patients ≤ 50 years selected randomly, matched by body mass index, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, surgical technique, and gender (ratio 1:2). Primary endpoint was surgical morbidity, 30-day readmission, and mortality.

Seventy-two patients in case group were matched with 144 patients in control group. Surgical complications rate was the same for both groups. No differences were observed in the conversion to open surgery rate or 30-day readmission rate. There was no mortality in this series.

In this case-control study, being elderly does not increase the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with bariatric surgery.