Bariatric surgery decreases risk of heart disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the US, affecting more than 30% of adults. It is characterized by hepatic steatosis in the absence of substantial alcohol consumption, long-term use of steatogenic drugs, or genetic disorders.

Reporting their results in JAMA Network researchers from State University, reported that obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery were nearly 50 percent less likely to develop adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, angina or strokes.

The findings provide evidence in support of bariatric surgery as an effective therapeutic tool to lower elevated risk of cardiovascular disease for select individuals with obesity and Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

In the study, researchers analyzed outcomes data, using the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters medical insurance database, from 2007 to 2017. Of 230 million covered individuals, 86,964 adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who had obesity and Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were identified. Of those, 68 percent of the study group were female, 35 percent underwent bariatric surgery and 65 percent received nonsurgical care.

Bariatric surgery patients experienced a 49 percent decrease in the risk of developing major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, heart failure or ischemic strokes. They were also far less likely to experience angina, atherosclerotic events or arterial blood clots.

Although bariatric surgery is a more aggressive approach than lifestyle modifications, it may be associated with other benefits, such as improved quality of life and decreased long-term health care burden, ended the researchers.

Reference:

Bariatric surgery decreases risk of heart disease; JOURNAL-JAMA Network Open, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.35003.