Impact of BMI Reduction After Sleeve Surgery on ESR and CRP Levels in Patients with Obesity

Obesity is commonly linked with a pro-inflammatory condition, marked by elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Sleeve gastrectomy, a widely utilized bariatric procedure, aims to achieve substantial weight loss and enhance metabolic function. This study aims to examine the impact of body mass index (BMI) reduction following sleeve gastrectomy on the levels of inflammatory markers CRP and ESR in obese individuals.

A prospective observational study was carried out on patients with obesity who underwent sleeve gastrectomy between 2020 and 2022 at Luqman Hakim Medical Education Center. CRP and ESR levels were recorded preoperatively and then at 6- and 12-month post-surgery. Simple regression analysis was employed to evaluate the correlation between BMI reduction and changes in CRP and ESR levels over time.

A significant reduction in BMI, CRP, and ESR levels was observed at both 6- and 12-month post-surgery. However, regression analysis indicated that BMI reduction did not significantly predict changes in ESR (B = 0.209, p = 0.262) or CRP (B = 0.274, p = 0.079) at the 6-month and 12-month follow-ups (CRP: B = 0.123, p = 0.138; ESR: B = 0.122, p = 0.453).

While sleeve gastrectomy significantly reduces BMI and inflammatory markers such as CRP and ESR in patients with obesity, the direct association between BMI reduction and these markers was not statistically significant. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify other potential predictors of inflammatory marker reduction post-surgery.