Bariatric surgery in the elderly: outcomes analysis of patients over 70 using the ACS-NSQIP database

Bariatric surgery offers patients with morbid obesity and related diseases short- and long-term benefits to their health and quality of life. Evidence-based medicine is integral in the evaluation of risk versus benefit; however, data are lacking for several high-risk patient populations, including the elderly.

This study assessed morbidity and mortality data for patients age ≥70 undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

University Hospital, Bronx, New York, United States using national database.

We used the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database for years 2005-2016 and identified patients who underwent primary SG or RYGB. Patients age ≥70 were assigned to the over age 70 (AGE70+) cohort and younger patients were assigned to the under age 70 (U70) cohort. Postoperative length of stay and 30-day morbidity and mortality were assessed.

A total of 1498 patients age ≥70 underwent nonrevisional bariatric surgery, including 751 (50.1%) SG and 747 (49.9%) RYGB. AGE70+ was associated with increased mortality and increased rates of cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and cerebrovascular morbidity. AGE70+ patients had longer mean length of stay, and were more likely to require transfusion and return to operative room. When stratified by procedure, rates of organ-space surgical site infection, acute renal failure, urinary tract infection, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis/thrombophlebitis, and septic shock were significantly increased in AGE70+ patients undergoing RYGB but not SG. Impaired functional status was associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality for AGE70+ patients and for U70 patients, although the small number of patients within each category limited statistical analysis.

Evaluation of risk versus benefit is performed on a case-by-case basis, but evidence-based medicine is critical in empowering surgeons and patients to make informed decisions. The overall rate of morbidity and mortality for AGE70+ patients undergoing bariatric surgery was increased relative to U70 patients. Rates of several adverse events, including acute renal failure and myocardial infarction, were increased in AGE70+ patients undergoing RYGB but not SG, suggesting that SG may be the preferred procedure for elderly patients with organ-specific risk factors. The increased rates of morbidity and mortality observed for patients with impaired functional status supports consideration of functional status when evaluating preoperative risk.