Benefits and risks of bariatric surgery in patients aged more than 60 years.
BACKGROUND
The benefits and risks of bariatric surgery are debated in older patients. The objective of this study was to compare the weight changes and adverse outcomes in patients>60 years and in younger ones.


METHODS
The French SOFFCO registry was screened for gastric bypass (RYGB), gastric banding (LAGB), or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) performed between 2007 and 2010. Adverse outcomes and weight changes (%) over 12 months were compared between patients<40 years (N = 1379), between 40-59 years (N = 1065), and>60 years (N = 164).


RESULTS
After a RYGB surgical (12.3 versus 3.8%; P = .03) and nonsurgical (7.0% versus .8%; P = .01) complications were more prevalent in patients above 60 years than in those below 40. No increased prevalence of surgical and nonsurgical complications was seen after a LAGB or a SG. Weight loss (% of initial weight) was lower after a LAGB than after a RYGB or a SG. After LAGB weight loss (%) did not differ between patients above 60 years and those aged<40 (difference 1.7±1.5%, P = .26). After a RYGB weight loss (%) was lower in patients aged>60 years (-5.6±1.7%, P = .001) than in those aged<40 years. After a SG, weight loss (%) was lower in patients aged>60 years (-7.0±2.6%, P = .01) than in those aged<40 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Bariatric surgery can be a short-term effective and safe therapeutic option in elderly patients. LAGB or SG appears to be an alternative strategy to RYGB, with lower adverse outcome rate.
Centre Intégré Obésité, Endocrinology Metabolism and Nutrition Department, CHU Toulouse, France; USMR 1027 Inserm Université Paul Sabatier, CHU Toulouse, France. Electronic address: patrick.ritz@wanadoo.fr.
Patrick
P
Ritz
Bariatric Surgery Department, Clinique de l'Anjou, Angers, France.
Philippe
P
Topart
Centre Péricaud, Lyon, France.
Salomon
S
Benchetrit
Centre Intégré Obésité, Endocrinology Metabolism and Nutrition Department, CHU Toulouse, France; USMR 1027 Inserm Université Paul Sabatier, CHU Toulouse, France.
Géraud
G
Tuyeras
USMR 1027 Inserm Université Paul Sabatier, CHU Toulouse, France.
Benoit
B
Lepage
Obesity Center, Clinique St George, Nice, France.
Jean
J
Mouiel
Bariatric Surgery Department, Clinique de l'Anjou, Angers, France.
Guillaume
G
Becouarn
General and Endocrine Surgery, CHRU Lille, INSERM UMR 859, Université de Lille-Nord de France, Lille, France.
François
F
Pattou
Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.
Jean-Marc
JM
Chevallier
Adjustable gastric banding; Elderly; Gastric bypass; Obesity surgery; Sleeve gastrectomy; Surgical adverse outcomes