Sleeve Gastrectomy in Septuagenarians: a Case-Control Study

There are few studies published referring to bariatric surgery in patients older than 70 years. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether there are benefits to performing sleeve gastrectomy (SG) in patients over 70 years of age and to compare the results with a younger control group.

Data were retrospectively collected from a Private Clinic's electronic medical records of patients undergoing SG between June 2017 and September 2020. Inclusion criteria were patients older than 70 years [septuagenarian group (SpG)] who met all institutional protocols. Patients in the control group (CG) were selected with a 1:1 ratio and under 60 years of age, according to body mass index and comorbidities. The primary endpoint of the study was to evaluate the morbidity and mortality during the 30-day postoperative period and percentage of total weight loss (%TWL), and improvement of comorbidities after 1 year of follow-up.

Fifty patients were included in the study. Both groups were similar regarding gender, weight, BMI, and presence of DM. The 30-day morbidity and mortality were similar between the groups. The patients in the SpG had 26.9% of %TWL and the CG, 28% (p = 0.32). The remission rate of DM (50% vs. 85% p = 0.01) and SAH (30% vs. 64% p = 0.04) was lower for septuagenarian patients.

The sleeve gastrectomy surgery performed in patients over 70 years of age is safe. The early results suggest similar benefits regarding weight loss and improvement of comorbidities to those having SG before age 60.