Procedure-dependent cardiovascular risk reduction after metabolic and bariatric surgery: a large cohort study

Obesity is a major contributor to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) through adverse effects on blood pressure, lipid metabolism, and glucose regulation. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) produces durable cardiometabolic improvement, but procedures differ in their metabolic effects. Whether these differences translate into meaningful variation in integrated cardiovascular risk reduction remains uncertain. We compared changes in estimated cardiovascular risk after sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS).

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults undergoing primary MBS at a tertiary academic center. Patients were required to have complete clinical and laboratory data at baseline and 1 year after surgery. Ten-year and lifetime ASCVD risk estimates were calculated using pooled cohort equations. Primary outcomes were absolute changes in estimated 10-year and lifetime cardiovascular risk at 1 year. Secondary outcomes included percent total body weight loss (TBWL%) and changes in blood pressure and lipid parameters.

The cohort included 2642 patients (699 SG, 1813 RYGB, and 130 BPD-DS). At 1 year, the mean 10-year cardiovascular risk decreased by 0.33 after SG, 0.93 after RYGB, and 1.58 after BPD-DS (P = .006). The mean lifetime cardiovascular risk decreased by 3.24, 7.67, and 10.49, respectively (P < .001). TBWL% was 23.6%, 31.0%, and 36.8%, respectively (P < .001).

MBS is associated with significant cardiovascular risk reduction, with greater benefit observed after more metabolically intensive procedures.